See a bear in your backyard? Try banging pots and pans to scare it away.
Have bears in your community? Then you better call the Bear Aware program.
Chris Ovens, from FVRD Bear Aware, addressed Harrison Hot Springs council on Monday night to let them know how the new program will work, and why it's been started.
With council's approval, Ovens and a summer student will be working on creating awareness among residents.
One of the ways they'll be doing this is by attaching a yellow sticker onto garbage cans that are placed out the evening before garbage day.
Garbage cans are one of the most common bear attractants, and can be reduced by putting out cans as close to pick up as possible.
Ovens will be conducting "garbage tagging" in communities through the FVRD, and compiling information for the municipalities future use. The stickers are in no way a fine, Ovens said.
In Harrison, they'll be coming out on Wednesday nights. Ovens is hoping that residents will find ways to put out their cans on Thursday mornings for pickup.
He has also been speaking with Village staff about creating signage to further the awareness campaign.
There will be no fee to the Village for the program, which is being conducted through the regional district in Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Chilliwack and Laidlaw.
Participating in the Bear Aware program is just one small step toward becoming a Bear Smart community, Ovens said.
At least one bear has already been dealt with in Harrison Hot Springs this summer.
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