Princeton town councillors have bears on their mind. (Pixabay stock photo)

Princeton town councillors have bears on their mind. (Pixabay stock photo)

Princeton mayor says bears are on council’s mind

The town hopes to become BearSmart through work with WildSafeBC.

  • Jun. 28, 2019 12:00 a.m.

The Mayor of Princeton wants to ease residents’ minds that the town is addressing bear issues in the community.

In a post to the town’s Facebook page, Mayor Spencer Coyne reassured the community town council is concerned about human-bear interactions.

Coyne said the town is working with WildSafeBC representatives to make the community bear smart.

“Coun. (Barb) Gould has been working with our WildSafe co-ordinator, Carolyn Blank, on Princeton becoming a BearSmart community,” wrote Coyne. “I have also asked staff for a cost on what it will take for the town to replace its garbage cans with bear-proof cans.”

Coyne said an inventory of garbage cans along the KVR and in parks is being done, so a cost analysis can be created and brought before council as soon as possible.

Coyne also asked residents to call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 if they are having issues with bears or other animals. That’s not so the animal can be killed, he explained, but to create a database of all urban wildlife conflicts that council can lobby the province with to fund a local conservation officer.


@LarynGilmourlaryn.gilmour@blackpress.caLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Similkameen Spotlight