What are the rules about bears and wildlife on a BC property?

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Don't feed bears, cougars, coyotes or wolves or leave garbage, compost or meat where they can reach it; wildlife is the Province's, and it pays nothing for damage wildlife does. Bears, cougars, coyotes and wolves come onto rural land and into towns across BC. The Wildlife Act puts the duty on whoever leaves food or garbage out, not on the animal: what draws wildlife onto a lot is the owner's to manage. Look up the address or PID on PlaceDossier to see the record for that lot. Whose wildlife: All wildlife in BC belongs to the Province (Wildlife Act s. 2 (1)). No one can sue the Province or claim compensation for death, injury or property damage caused by wildlife (s. 2 (5)). Dangerous wildlife: The Act names bear, cougar, coyote and wolf as dangerous wildlife, plus any species a regulation adds (s. 1). Its attractant rules are about these. Feeding and attractants: No one may intentionally feed dangerous wildlife, or leave an attractant on land to draw it in (s. 33.1 (1)). Nor may anyone leave an attractant where people are or are likely to be in a way that could draw dangerous wildlife and that it could reach (s. 33.1 (2)). An attractant is food or food waste, compost or other waste or garbage that could attract dangerous wildlife, or a carcass or meat (s. 1). Each day it goes on can be a separate offence (s. 33.1 (4)). Lawful hunting and trapping, and a farm operation run under the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act, are excepted from parts of it (s. 33.1 (5), (6)). A conservation officer's order: Where an attractant is drawing or could draw dangerous wildlife and puts people at risk, a conservation officer may order the owner or occupier to contain, move or remove it within a set time, and may enter land other than a house without a warrant to check (s. 88.1). Not complying is an offence. Qualifying farm operations, lawful trapping and a municipality's waste facility are exempt. Killing one to protect life or property: Wildlife killed by accident or to protect life or property stays the Province's (s. 2 (4)), and the killing or wounding, and where the animal is, must be reported promptly to an officer (s. 75). Whether a killing was lawful is the Conservation Officer Service's call (our reading); hunting on your own land has its own rules. Who to call: Report wildlife where public safety may be at risk, such as a bear in garbage or breaking into a building, or a cougar or wolf in a town, to the RAPP line, 1-877-952-7277. Conservation officers respond where there's a risk to public safety; they don't attend low-risk conflicts with raccoons, skunks, geese and the like, which an owner prevents by changing the property. Bear Smart Communities: The Province's Bear Smart Community Program, run with the BC Conservation Foundation and the Union of BC Municipalities, recognises communities that meet its criteria: 12 so far (Castlegar, Coquitlam, Kamloops, Lions Bay, Naramata, New Denver, Port Alberni, Port Hardy, Port Moody, Squamish, Tofino and Whistler). It isn't taking applications now. A council or regional district may also have its own garbage or wildlife attractant bylaw: ask whether this one does. What it means for a buyer: Fruit trees, compost, garbage kept outside, bird feeders, barbecues, pet and animal feed, chickens and beehives are what usually draw bears onto a lot (our reading). None of it is unlawful on its own; leaving it where dangerous wildlife can reach it, where people are, can be. Ask what comes through, and budget for a garage or bear-resistant storage and, around chickens or bees, electric fencing (our reading).

What are the rules about bears and wildlife on a BC property?

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