Human-Bear Con Ict Management Plan

Human-Bear ConflictManagement PlanSEPTEMBER 2021Classification: Public

Human-Bear Conflict Management Plan Environment and Parks 2021 Government of Alberta Published: September 2021 ISBN 978-1-4601-5258-4

ContentsPurpose. 4Preface. 4Approval Conditions Applicable to All Industrial Camps. 5Staff Training and Awareness. 5Site Selection. 5Sightings and Adaptive Management. 5Electric Fence. 5Camp Arrangement. 5Attractants 3. 6Vegetation Management*. 6Garbage, Cooking Grease and Recycling. 6Waste Water. 6Other Attractants 3. 6Additional Conditions for Long-term Industrial Camps(more than one bear season2). 6

“Work Camps” refers to all Commercial and IndustrialCamps on public land. They could be associated with anyof the following disposition codes: DML, PLA, DOA, TFA,MSL, DMS, LOC, DLO, DPL, PIL, MLL, DML, EZE, REA,SML or SMC, and includes temporary work camps such astree planting camps.1PurposeThese practices are required for work camps1 establishingor operating in bear country during the bear season2 , forthe following purposes: To enhance the safety of all workers that reside and workin industrial camps located in bear country by managingattractants 3 and preventing wildlife access to camps. To improve the management and conservation of blackand grizzly bears in Alberta by reducing human-bearconflicts through reducing or removing attractants 3. To provide the appropriate direction for companiesthat operate in bear country to comply with the AlbertaWildlife Act and bear safe practices.“Bear season” refers to the period from April 1 toNovember 30.2“Attractants” means anything a bear may associatewith food, a mate or a cub in distress is consideredan attractant. They may include but are not limited to:garbage, human, pet or livestock food, wastewater, cookinggrease, recycling, petroleum products (i.e. plastic jerrycans), personal hygiene products and blood and animalcarcasses.3“Large Carnivore” refers primarily to any bear, cougar,coyote or wolf.4“Human-wildlife conflicts” means any incident that hasthe potential to cause injury and/or property damage. Thisincludes any large carnivore feeding on unnatural foods(i.e. garbage, human food, pet food, ornamental fruit trees,composters, and barbeques). It also includes incidentswhere the reaction of the large carnivore could result inpersonal injury, such as stalking behaviors, bluff-charges ormaulings.5PrefaceThroughout this document, there are certain terms thatare accompanied by an asterisk*. In these cases, theseterms are further identified and defined within the AlbertaPublic Lands Glossary of Terms to ensure applicants arefully aware of their meaning and intent. The Alberta PublicLands Glossary of Terms is available on the Environmentand Parks external website.When important terms are not currently defined in theAlberta Public Lands Glossary of Terms, a superscriptednumber will accompany these certain terms and thefollowing definitions shall apply:4Classification: Public“Bear-resistant containers” means a securablecontainer constructed of a solid, non-pliable material,capable of withstanding 270 joules (200 foot-pounds) ofenergy. When secured and under stress, the container willnot have any cracks, openings or hinges that would allow abear to gain entry by biting or pulling with its claws. Woodcontainers are not considered bear-resistant unless theyare reinforced with metal.6Human-Bear Conflict Management Plan

Approval Conditions Applicable toAll Industrial CampsStaff Training and Awareness All staff must have wildlife-safety training. Under the Alberta Wildlife Act (24(1)), it is illegal to harassany wildlife. All companies must have a clear policyagainst staff feeding and harassing wildlife. All staff should have access to BearSmart educationalresources (i.e. Staying Safe and Working Safe in BearCountry videos, Government of Alberta BearSmartpamphlets). Signs should be posted to inform staff of bear safepractices (i.e. no littering, do not feed wildlife, removeattractants 3 from vehicles).Site Selection All new camps must be constructed within 100 metersof an existing arterial all-weather permanent access. Camps must not be placed within 200m of a largepermanent watercourse, a Grizzly bear den site*, amineral lick* or a major wildlife corridor*. Camps shouldbe located out of visual and auditory range from theaforementioned sites and areas.Sightings and Adaptive Management All large carnivore sightings and activities within 100maround the camp and operating area must be recorded.A Fish and Wildlife Officer can request this information atany time.4 Camps must have a large carnivore4 wildlife responseplan that includes a main on-site contact person andthe Report-A-Poacher phone number (1-800-642-3800)quickly accessible. Any human-wildlife conflicts 5 that can be handled safelyby onsite staff members or contractors, and within theirauthorities, does not need to be reported local Fish andWildlife Officers.Electric Fence Must construct and maintain an adequate electrifiedfence (i.e. bottom wire appropriate distance from theground), complete with electrified gate access, to preventbears from accessing the site. Electrified perimeter fence must encompass all garbagecontainment areas, dining areas and wastewatercontainment, cooking and accommodation facilities. Clear all vegetation within 2m on either side of theelectrified fence to maintain fence function. The electrified function of the fence and gate must beoperational at all times during the bear season2 . The electrified function must be set up as permanufacturer’s instructions and must be tested daily.See BearSmart: Electric Fences and Bears fact sheet(2017) for the Government of Alberta’s recommendationfor effective electric fencing for BearSmart purposes.Camp ArrangementContact Report-A-PoacherAll human-wildlife 5 conflicts that cannot be handledsafely by onsite staff members or contractors, andwithin their authorities, shall be promptly reportedto the Fish and Wildlife Officers by callingReport-A-Poacher (1-800-642-3800).Human-Bear Conflict Management Plan Unless they are within the same enclosed hard-walledbuilding, sleeping areas should be kept away fromcooking, eating and wastewater containments areas byat least 100m. Skirting must be in place and maintained on allapplicable buildings to prevent wildlife access. Attractants 3 should not be kept within 5m inside theperimeter of the electric fence.5Classification: Public

External bear-resistant containment surfaces must bekept clean. Ensure garbage, cooking grease and recycling are notstored on site when all staff will be off site for more thantwo days.Waste Water Must use totally enclosed bear-resistant black and greywater containment. Company must discourage randomdispersal of fecal material. Must treat all liquid effluents and waste, or dispose of atan authorized waste disposal facility. Water standpipes, taps or hand pumps must remain freeof food particles, grease accumulations and other debris.Attractants Should minimize wastewater odors (i.e. use limingtechniques).3 All attractants 3 must be secured in bear-resistantcontainers 6 or hard-walled structures and within theelectrified perimeter fence. Attractants 3 may include,but is not limited to:-human foodgarbagerecyclingcooking greasefood containersbarbeques- personal hygieneproducts- pet food- petroleum basedproducts (i.e. jerry cans) Camp area should be inspected daily for new ormisplaced attractants 3. The presence of odours and attractants 3 should beminimized as much as possible.Vegetation Management*Other Attractants3 No garbage, food or other attractants 3 shall be left in thevehicles kept outside the fenced camp area. No unsupervised pets shall be kept on the premises.Pets shall be kept in enclosed buildings when staffare away from camp. Pet food must be secured inbear-resistant containers 6 or hard-walled structuresand within the electrified perimeter fenced area. Non-food attractants 3 such as petroleum products mustbe secured in bear-resistant containers 6 or hard-walledstructures and within the electrified perimeter fencedarea. Smoking areas and cigarette disposers shall be withinthe electrified perimeter fenced area. All personal hygiene items and other attractants 3 mustnot be stored in tents. Remove fruit-bearing vegetation from the campand surrounding 50m area. Clear vegetation within 2m on either side of the electrifiedfence to maintain fence function. Clear visually obstructing vegetation within the electrifiedfence and at least 15m outside the electrified fence toensure adequate line of site*.Garbage, Cooking Grease and Recycling Garbage, cooking grease and recycling must be securedin bear-resistant containers 6 or hard-walled structuresand within the electrified perimeter fence. Bear-resistant containment must be secured with lidsthat shall be kept closed when not being loaded.Additional Conditions forLong-term Industrial Camps(more than one bear season2) Camps must have a permanent two-meter high chainlink or game-proof fence accompanied by a permanentelectrified fence with at least six electrified strands. Theelectric fence may be retrofitted to the chain-link fence. Camps must use certified bear resistant containers. Bear-resistant containment must be emptied beforereaching full capacity.6Classification: PublicHuman-Bear Conflict Management Plan

link or game-proof fence accompanied by a permanent electrified fence with at least six electrified strands. The electric fence may be retrofitted to the chain-link fence. Camps must