BURSTAs autumn approaches in the Comox Valley, residents are starting to see a familiar seasonal sight: black bears foraging for food before their winter torpor.
Typically, many local bears make a beeline to the salmon spawning in the Puntledge River and other waterways, but a Comox porch camera captured a unique bear that some valley residents are calling “Bimothy.”
Just like Jimothy, the Seattle raccoon who went media viral this summer, the black bear spotted in the Comox home’s security footage on the night of Aug. 31 appears to have a shortened body and tucked-in hindquarters, giving the animal an unusual gait.
Whereas Jimothy the raccoon has an identified spinal condition, the BC Conservation Office Service (BCCOS) has not stated whether the bear was injured or born disabled the way Jimothy was.
“Conservation Officers advise that the bear remains close to significant forested green space and that bears can develop an altered gait for a variety of reasons, including injuries caused by vehicle collisions or encounters with other bears,” said an update from the BCCOS.
The BCCOS says the video will be assessed by a biologist or a veterinarian, and at this time, no one has reported the bear as aggressive or threatening.
“Residents are asked to monitor the bear and report any changes in its condition or behaviour to the Conservation Officer Service RAPP Line,” the BCCOS said.
The BCCOS reminds the public to assess their properties for potential bear attractants, such as easy food sources like fruit tree windfall, unsecured garbage and smelly composts. Pick fruit trees regularly, clean up fallen fruit, keep garbage in a shed or garage until garbage day, and do not put fish, meat, grease, oil or dairy products in your compost. Ensure barbecues are kept throughly cleaned and store pet food indoors.
“Community-wide efforts to reduce and manage attractants will help discourage bears from entering urban and residential areas and support their continued use of nearby forest habitat,” said BCCOS.
In the fall, bears experience hyperphagia (extreme eating) and require an average of 20,000 calories a day. A black bear has an acute sense of smell, being able to detect food over 1 km away. According to Wild Safe BC, black bears make up 14,000 to 25,000 calls to BCCOS every year, and following bear safe strategies can help keep them from becoming habituated to humans, protecting both the bears and the public.
Report any human-wildlife conflicts that puts public safety at risk, and any injured or diseased wildlife to the BCCOS RAPP hotline at 1-877-952-7277 or at forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp.