Significant Reduction in Local Bear Mortality

Lethal encounters with black bears in the Tofino and Ucluelet area have fallen sharply this year, with just a single bear dispatched. The outcome marks a contrast to 2025, when 12 bears were killed due to food conditioning. According to Chris Read of WildSafeBC Pacific Rim, many of the animals killed in 2025 had become heavily accustomed to accessible, unsecure human food sources during the preceding two years.

Read noted that black bears are currently sticking to natural food, even though unsecured attractants remain present across the region. While bears are being displaced from traditional habitats, Read emphasized their ability to adapt around human populations and stressed the importance of securing garbage to minimize human-wildlife friction.

Garbage Remains Top Provincial Attractant

Data from WildSafeBC highlights secure waste management as the primary factor in reducing interactions. Provincial statistics show that between 2014 and 2018, the BC Conservation Officer Service logged 21,020 reports citing garbage as an attractant. The second highest cause—residential fruit trees and gardens—accounted for 5,395 reports over the same timeframe.

Proactive Enforcement and Community Integration

In an effort to address the issue locally, Ucluelet established a pilot program this past summer by hiring Cameron McKieve as a wildlife safety response officer. Working alongside conservation officers, McKieve initiated 50 enforcement actions, conducted 36 educational interactions, issued eight municipal tickets, and served six provincial warnings or orders. He has since been retained as a full-time municipal bylaw officer.

Due to the current provincial election period, representatives from the BC Conservation Officer Service and McKieve are unable to provide interviews while the provincial government operates under caretaker restrictions limited to essential communications.

WildSafeBC’s local outreach incorporates traditional cultural knowledge from the Nuu-chah-nulth people regarding coexistence with wildlife. Read expressed optimism that residents will continue learning to respect bears at a distance to prevent animals from becoming habituated or aggressive.