Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
It's that time of the year when bears are starting to bulk up for the winter and eating whatever they can find to do that.
Enter Jasper, with an abundance of beautiful scenery, including fruit trees. Beautiful or not, the trees have attracted hungry bears in the past and will continue to.
Over the last few decades, the Municipality of Jasper and Jasper National Park have made progress in reducing bear mortality by eliminating attractants like open garbage dumps, installing the electrified fence at the transfer station, and implementing bear-proof garbage containers.
But fruit trees in town are one of the last remaining sources of bear food attractants.
In the summer of 2019, Parks Canada Human-Wildlife Conflict staff responded to 118 black bear/fruit tree related incidents in the townsite, said Steve Young, a spokesman for Jasper National Park.
At least seven different black bears fed on fruit trees between late August and October, 2019 and two bears fed in fruit trees within town for almost two months.
Two bears had to be destroyed because they became food conditioned in town and posed a risk to the public.
One of them was active in town for two weeks before any reports were made to Parks Canada. By that time, the bear was breaking into buildings to access food. Another bear was injured or sick and extremely malnourished.
Young said, "Once bears are food conditioned, they pose a higher risk for wildlife-human interactions. The euthanization of any animal is always a last resort and only used when visitor or resident safety could be at risk."
To deal with the problem if you own a fruit tree, Young said, you should pick all the fruit as soon as it is ripe.
Folks are also encouraged to contact Jasper Local Food Society for help as they can help manage and use your fruit.聽聽Email [email protected], call 1-343-363-3964 or find Jasper Fruit Share on Facebook.
Jasper Local Food Society is also promoting an Apple Festival on Sept. 26, 2020 and has approved investment in an Apple Press.
Parks Canada also has and continues to help with the removal of fruit trees. Priority species include cherry species, apple and crabapple trees.
Last fall, the municipality talked with Parks Canada about coming up with a solution, said John Greathead, director of operations, including the possibility of a program for fruit tree replacement with a non-attracting tree for homeowners, and other options.
Greathead said his department made a request this spring, when budgets were being worked on, to remove about 500 trees, including fruit trees, on municipal property.
But the COVID pandemic changed the financial scenario and the tree budget was cut, he said.
The scope of work was narrowed and staff stuck with removing hazardous or dangerous trees from the townside.
"We removed around 250 red, dead trees that were deemed hazardous, mainly around the playgrounds and parks and walking areas," Greathead noted.
Removing fruit trees has met with a mixed reaction though.
Greathead said many homeowners removed trees but there were many other residents who were strongly opposed to the idea.
He added that there are about 130 trees in town, including mountain ash and chokecherries, which are prime bear attractants.
But Greathead said he hasn't received any emails about bear complaints so far this year, whereas there were 鈥渓ots鈥� last year.
Young urged people to report any bear sighting to Jasper Dispatch at 780-852-6155, because timely reporting is essential for Parks Canada to be able to manage and change behaviours early.
He said it's important to remember that residents and visitors share the surrounding area with wildlife.
"Residents are therefore encouraged to pick and remove all fruit from their fruit trees or contact Parks Canada who can remove and replace the fruit trees," he said. "Human and wildlife safety is of the utmost importance for Parks Canada."
This year鈥檚 bear incident numbers are unavailable at this time, Young said, as Parks Canada compiles all the data on wildlife incidents and compares it with the previous year's data.
"The agency will be able to have a better idea then, but at this time, it鈥檚 too early to tell,鈥� he said.
