Fort McMurray Forum

Industry officials looking to reduce human/animal encounters
After 145 black bears were destroyed in Wood Buffalo last year, industry officials are looking to reduce the number of human/animal encounters.

Ken Chapman is the Executive Director of the Oil Sands Developers Group and says a joint-effort is underway to avoid a repeat of last summer.


"I don't think that is was fair that is was pinned on oil sands operators, I think it was fair that attention was brought to it, I think it raises the alarm that we've got to do better, and we are doing better, we are doing it better in a collaborative basis with the municipality, with camp operators, with oil sands companies and the with the provincial government, we're all working on this together, we realize it's on all of our shoulders and we have to be more bear smart," said Chapman.

Chapman says oil sands operators will be their educating employees, improving waste management practices, and have introduced live bear traps.