Protect wildlife and your community: Garbage is the main attractant for black bears

News Article
Published: September 8, 2026

INFORMATION RELEASE 

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) reminds residents, property owners, and visitors that garbage is the number one attractant for black bears in the region. Please follow the established curbside collection bylaws to reduce conflicts with bears and other wildlife.  

Curbside carts are to be placed out for collection between 5:00 am and 7:00 am on the designated day for garbage collection. Do not place them out the night before.  

After a wildfire, wildlife becomes more desperate for food and resources. Their searches often lead them into urban areas. To keep the animals safe, please secure all attractants including fallen fruit.  

Did you know? 

  • B.C. has the largest population of black bears in North America, and interactions within the RDOS reached new highs in 2023. 

  • Convenient, unnatural food sources can create health issues for any species of wildlife, not just bears. Rats and raccoons are also well-adapted to access unnatural food sources. 

  • Bears can smell five times better than dogs. 

  • Access to attractants in residential areas can cause human/wildlife conflict, creating safety concerns. 

  • A black bear that loses its instinct to avoid humans is called ‘habituated’ and cannot be re-programmed to be wary of people. 

  • Relocation is not an option for habituated bears and will often result in the bear having to be euthanized. 

Tips to reduce human/wildlife conflict: 

  • Keep your garbage secure; store it in a secure location indoors, or in a wildlife-resistant container. 

  • Bears walking through residential areas do not mean they are habituated. Give them lots of space and allow them to move on. 

  • Only put your garbage, recycling, and yard waste out on the day of collection, never the night before. 

  • Keep your carts inside a garage or shed during the week. Lock and secure your wildlife-resistant cart to an immovable object like a fence or tree.  

  • Manage your fruit trees so that fruit is picked as it ripens, and no windfall accumulates. 

  • Bring bird feeders indoors from April to November and when they are out, ensure that the ground beneath them is kept free of seeds. 

  • Feed pets indoors. 

  • Maintain your compost bin. Ensure balanced greens, browns, and moisture to keep it active. 

  • Protect orchards, beehives, and small livestock with a properly installed and maintained electric fence. 

  • Respect wild animals by not feeding them. Food-conditioned animals are more likely to come into conflict. 

  • Keep barbeques clean and odour-free. 

Wildlife-resistant carts are an available option for curbside collection. They are a tool for residents who cannot store their waste indoors throughout the week. For more information, visit rdos.bc.ca/curbside. 

Electoral Area "D" collection time change 

Due to higher than average wildlife conflicts, the curbside collection route for Electoral Area “D” has shifted slightly to allow the Heritage Hills area to be collected earlier in the morning. Please ensure that all waste is to the curb by 7:00 am. If waste is not at the curb at the time the garbage truck comes by, it will not be collected. Heritage Hills is usually serviced later in the day due to garbage trucks not being able to safely navigate the steep hillside in winter morning conditions. Once the roads become icy or snowy, the collection route will revert back to normal to avoid interruptions in service.  

After a wildfire, burned landscapes can draw wildlife into communities in search of easily accessible food. To keep the animals safe, please secure all attractants.  

We can all do our part to reduce conflicts with wildlife. Please report wildlife conflicts or sightings in urban areas to the Conservation Officer Service Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277. The hotline should be used to report wildlife-human interactions where public safety may be at risk. 

For further information, please contact Joni Reimer, RDOS Waste Reduction Coordinator, at 250-490-4129 or email jreimer@rdos.bc.ca. 

For further information, please contact RDOS Communications. 

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Contact: 
RDOS Communications 
250-490-4148 
Toll-free 1-877-610-3737 

 

 

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