Wine and Grape Conference


Coping safely and effectively with wildlife


Workshop provides tips on what to do about bears and other unwanted visitors.


By Susan McIver A


workshop on how to deploy bear spray safely and reduce wildlife conflicts was a popular one at July’s 16th annual Enology and Viticulture Conference and Trade Show held July 20-21 in Penticton. It was conducted by Zoë Kirk, the WildSafeBC coordinator for the Regional District Okanagan- Similkameen.


“Farms, orchards and vineyards are often located in wildlife interface or natural areas where bears and other wildlife live,” Kirk said.


It’s best, of course, to avoid any encounter with bears.


This starts with taking waste fruit in the landfill, not dumping it where it can attract bears, and the use of electric fencing, including portable fences where electricity is not available.


Portable electric fencing, wire or mesh, can be used around bee hives located in orchards or vineyards and areas where workers are harvesting ice wine grapes and other late-season fruit.


“To avoid encounters it’s important to be alert about what is going on around you and to make noise— speak, move machinery, play a radio,” Kirk said.


Air horns and screamers are good scare tactics and first warning


12 SUSAN MCIVER


Ron Harris of the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre practices his bear spraying skills in a workshop at the recent enology and viticulture conference in Penticton.


devices.


Food and drink should be kept in sealed containers and garbage should never be left open and accessible. “Dogs are a good first warning of intruders, but can also be prey, and lead the bear back to you,” Kirk said. If you see a bear, stay calm, assess the situation and move away slowly. “If a bear comes towards you, slowly raise your arms and in a low voice speak directly to it saying ‘Whoa bear’,” Kirk said. “This will let the bear know you are a human, not a threat and you are moving away.” If the bear persists, yell, stomp and activate an air horn while reaching for your bear spray.


NEW SPRAYING TECHNIQUE Workshop participants had the opportunity to sharpen their bear spraying skills with fully-charged cans that lacked the pepper component. “The idea with the old stuff was a single jet aimed at the bear. It’s now advised to create a cloud of spray between you and the bear,” Kirk said. The new technique begins with a vertical spray from the ground upwards to slightly over the bear’s head and then a couple of lateral sprays.


“Don’t cheap out. Look for high- British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Fall 2015


quality products,” Kirk said. Items priced much lower than average have been known to fail. Kirk also advises to keep the can handy, preferably in a holster, and to check the ‘best before’ date because the pressure in a can will decrease over time and the gases dissipate. She also recommends making a storage sleeve from ABS piping with a threaded lid for storage.


“The last thing you want is for the spray to be deployed in your vehicle if you have an accident,” she said. There has been a significant decrease in conflict with bears in the South Okanagan, Kirk reported. She attributes this in part to local residents and growers reducing bear attractants (being ‘bear aware’) and the bear project at the Pacific Agri- Food Research Centre in


Summerland, which included training of vineyard personnel.


“There are lots of bear encounters in Peachland, West Kelowna and northward,” Kirk said. Some Summerland bears are known to have moved to Peachland where food is more readily available. Understanding bear biology and behaviour is important, but be prepared for the unexpected.


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