What NBA has done since 2000:
Preventative Education:
- Schools in the Prince George area have received a total of 360 free interactive elementary classroom presentations reaching 10,400 students.
- Summer camps in the Prince George area have received a total of 151 interactive presentations reaching 3,620 participants.
- Canvassing has reached 9,442 homes.
- Northern Bear Awareness brochures have been sent to ~7000 homes. Public events communicating the bear awareness message have reached ~41,000 community members.
Community Involvement:
- The Fruit Exchange Program has coordinated over 1,400 volunteers to help put locally produced fruit in the hands of local people.
- The media has greatly supported our efforts in Prince George. Our 7 radio stations have regularly broadcasted interviews and bear updates; local newspapers have published hundreds of articles; CKPG TV annually produces and airs news segments, as well as TV commercials in 2005; and Shaw Cable has also produced and aired informative clips for us.
Research and Bear Smart Status:
- The NBA program developed the first human-bear conflict map with PG bear complaint data in 2000. Updated maps are produced each year.
- Bear-Hazard risk assessments have been completed for all municipal parks, schools, and community centres.
- Public surveys have been collected in PG since 2000 on public perception of bear conflicts.
- A bear-attractant tree list has been researched and developed to aid municipal planners
- Provincial Bear Smart Status research was initiated, contracting Dr. Lana Ciarniello Ph.D., RPBio. (funded by HCTF).
- Phase 1 of the Prince George Bear Hazard Assessment was completed in 2006.
- Phase 2 of the Prince George Bear Hazard Assessment data analysis completed, field study, and preliminary management plan completed in September 2008.
- Phase 3 Prince George Bear Smart Management Plan completed and published in October 2009.
- Urban Bear Smart Research Project initiated, with two female black bears being radio-collared in spring 2009.
- Resolution for Bear Smart bylaw passed by Prince George Mayor and Council on June 29, 2009.
