Fort McMurray Forum

Industry, government partner to reduce bear-human encounters

A joint effort is underway in the oil sands to reduce the number of bear-human encounters.

Last summer 145 bears had to be destroyed, many of which had become to comfortable around industry sites and work camps.

Another 234 were captured, double the second highest year on record.

"A number of operators have bear traps on site so when there's a bear sighting they can actually bait them and trap the bear themselves so SRD doesn't have to come out. They come out and take the bear and relocate it," said Ken Chapman, Executive Developer of the Oil Sands Developers Group.

Work is also being done to make sure landfills are bear safe, while oil sands workers are also being educated on how to be bear smart.

Chapman says extra emphasis is being put on ensuring there is no garbage left laying around, including in vehicles.

Adding that industry, the municipality and the province are all working to avoid a repeat of last summer.