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B.C. funds education programs to help save bears

uploaded by a walk on the wild side nature photography May 8, 2008 at 06:26 pm
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B.C. funds education programs to help save bears by a walk on the wild side nature photography

The British Columbia government is setting aside funds for two organizations with the aim of providing education for people on how to treat the bears that share their environment properly, so that many are not killed for something humans have encourgaed them to do.

Environment Minister Barry Penner says the B.C. Conservation Foundation will get a $250,000 grant for its Bear Aware education program.

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation will get a $200,000 grant for communities to participate in its Bear Smart program.

Penner says about 700 bears are destroyed in the province every year because the animals pose a danger to the public while they're looking for food.

He says too many people carelessly leave food and garbage around, drawing the animals to places they shouldn't be.

Penner says reducing conflicts between bears and people will also mean savings in the long run because the province's conservation office spends about $1 million a year responding to bear complaints.