Human Black Bear Conflict Management Plan Within the victoria beach area By: David Klein – Don Roberts – Stefano Strapazzon

Focus Area The decided area is approximately 20 squared kilometers within the Victoria Beach area.

Purpose To create a plan that the Victoria Beach Area can implement to reduce the level of conflict between humans and bears both in overall numbers and severity of impact within the Victoria Beach area.

Approach The plan will be implemented in 2 phases, and will be achieved through various goals and objectives. Phase 1: Have localized data gathered on persistent attractants, as well as determine how manageable these attractants are based on public input (public surveys). Phase 2: Builds upon the information gathered during phase 1 and provides an implementation process plan to help reduce human-bear conflicts within the Victoria Beach Area.

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Phase 1 Goals Phase 1 will be achieved through the completion of the 3 following goals. Goal 1) Implement a system to allow for data collection on black bear populations in the area in order to evaluate population abundance and collect baseline data to allow future evaluation. Goal 2) Implement a system to allow for data collection on bear attractants within the Victoria Beach Area. Goal 3) Once data has been collected, assess the manageability of attractants and the plan based on public opinion.

Phase 1 Goal 1) Implement a system to allow for data collection on black bear populations in the area in order to evaluate population abundance and collect baseline data to allow future evaluation. Goal 2) Implement a system to allow for data collection on bear attractants within the Victoria Beach Area. Goal 3) Once data has been collected, assess the manageability of attractants and the plan based on public opinion.

Goal 1 Objective 1) Have Victoria Beach work along side Manitoba Conservation and other stakeholders to gather data on bear populations along the east shore of Lake Winnipeg within game hunting areas 34. B, 34, and 26 Objective 2) Have data regionalized to determine residential bear population living within the Victoria Beach area. Use methods that would be suggested by Manitoba Conservation to ensure efficiency and accuracy.

Phase 1 Goal 1) Implement a system to allow for data collection on black bear populations in the area in order to evaluate population abundance and collect baseline data to allow future evaluation. Goal 2) Implement a system to allow for data collection on bear attractants within the Victoria Beach Area. Goal 3) Once data has been collected, assess the manageability of attractants and the plan based on public opinion.

Goal 2 Recent data exists on attractants within the community of Victoria Beach Objective 1) Have Victoria Beach Work with the Canadian Wildlife Services to further expand on the attractant data within the Victoria Beach area

Phase 1 Goal 1) Implement a system to allow for data collection on black bear populations in the area in order to evaluate population abundance and collect baseline data to allow future evaluation. Goal 2) Implement a system to allow for data collection on bear attractants within the Victoria Beach Area. Goal 3) Once data has been collected, assess the manageability of attractants and the plan based on public opinion.

Goal 3 Objective 1) Victoria Beach would conduct a survey to determine public awareness and perception of both bears and attractants Objective 2) Assess public willingness to implement and follow the human-bear conflict management plan Objective 3) Once willingness of implementation is determined, assess the goals of Phase 2 based on public support

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Phase 2 Phase 2 will be achieved through the implementation of various objectives within 4 goals. GOAL 1) Establish framework to decrease bears entering the Victoria beach area GOAL 2) Provide an educational plan to increase public awareness and knowledge within the Victoria Beach area GOAL 3) Establish a general framework that could potentially be used in other similar R.M.s and regions across Canada. GOAL 4) Further review of plan with continuing research within the field of study and implementation of new adaptive management techniques.

Phase 2 GOAL 1) Establish framework to decrease bears entering the Victoria beach area GOAL 2) Provide an educational plan to increase public awareness and knowledge within the Victoria Beach area GOAL 3) Establish a general framework that could potentially be used in other similar R.M.s and regions across Canada. GOAL 4) Further review of plan with continuing research within the field of study and implementation of new adaptive management techniques.

Goal 1 Objective 1.1.1) If there is support for a management plan, by- laws should be implemented within Victoria Beach to eliminate non-essential attractants. These include, but are not limited to: Human Food Attractants (Bird feeders, and Garbage/food wastes) Human Food Attractants (Bird feeders, and Garbage/food wastes) Objective 1.1.2) To change garbage system within the cottage areas with bear proof garbage bins (this would be an introduced tax to pay for new garbage programs). Objective 1.2) If there is minimal support we would skip Goals 1, and 3.

Phase 2 GOAL 1) Establish framework to decrease bears entering the Victoria beach area GOAL 2) Provide an educational plan to increase public awareness and knowledge within the Victoria Beach area GOAL 3) Establish a general framework that could potentially be used in other similar R.M.s and regions across Canada. GOAL 4) Further review of plan with continuing research within the field of study and implementation of new adaptive management techniques.

Goal 2 Objective 1) Implement an educational program through local constables targeted towards annual workers and other important public figures (front desk workers, and restaurant owners). This would allow for a sustainable bear awareness program within the region. Objective 2) Implement and maintain the bear smart program within the Victoria Beach area. Create new signage for the front entranceCreate new signage for the front entrance Bear smart materials will be given to cottage renters upon arrival.Bear smart materials will be given to cottage renters upon arrival. Bear smart materials would be available at public recreational areas and local establishments to promote the program to local residents and visitors alike.Bear smart materials would be available at public recreational areas and local establishments to promote the program to local residents and visitors alike. Deliver information through other meansDeliver information through other means

Phase 2 GOAL 1) Establish framework to decrease bears entering the Victoria beach area GOAL 2) Provide an educational plan to increase public awareness and knowledge within the Victoria Beach area GOAL 3) Establish a general framework that could potentially be used in other similar R.M.s and regions across Canada. GOAL 4) Further review of plan with continuing research within the field of study and implementation of new adaptive management techniques.

Goal 3 Objective 1) Using the management plan as a pilot program to establish a general plan so that other R.M’s and area’s may use as a guideline to implement their own human-bear conflict management plan. Objective 2) After trial runs are ran in other areas, if the general plan is deemed successful we would publish the general plan so that we may facilitate area’s wishing to adopt a human-black bear conflict management plan.

Phase 2 GOAL 1) Establish framework to decrease bears entering the Victoria beach area GOAL 2) Provide an educational plan to increase public awareness and knowledge within the Victoria Beach area GOAL 3) Establish a general framework that could potentially be used in other similar R.M.s and regions across Canada. GOAL 4) Further review of plan with continuing research within the field of study and implementation of new adaptive management techniques.

Goal 4 Objective 1) Assess success of management plan if deemed successful we would not change the plan. If not successful we would move to Objective 2. Objective 2) Determine areas of non-success and look for ways to improve plan. Objective 3) Use new plan and determine if any further changes are needed.

Timeline Phase 1 should be completed in 1 to 2 years. Phase 2 would be implemented immediately after completion of phase 1 and continue for 3 to 4 years. Throughout annual assessments will be conducted to ensure plan’s success and adjust the plan if necessary. After completion biannual assessments will be necessary to ensure the plan is being implemented accordingly. how-dangerous-are-black-bears.html

Stakeholders Primary Stakeholders Secondary Stakeholders 1 2http:// 3http:// 4http:// 5http://

Funding Funding from the R.M of Victoria Beach Funding from the R.M of Victoria Beach Increase in taxes to pay for management plan Increase in taxes to pay for management plan Use fines from new bylaws to support management plan Use fines from new bylaws to support management plan Provincial Government of Manitoba Provincial Government of Manitoba Sustainable innovations (annual) fund- Up to 25,000$ Sustainable innovations (annual) fund- Up to 25,000$ Manitoba Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection grants- Up to 12,000$ Manitoba Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection grants- Up to 12,000$ Green Manitoba- Tomorrow Now Plan (application process, no determined fund limit) Green Manitoba- Tomorrow Now Plan (application process, no determined fund limit) Federal Government of Canada Federal Government of Canada Green Source Funding Green Source Funding Environmental Issues fund- no maximum funds Environmental Issues fund- no maximum funds EcoAction Community Funding program EcoAction Community Funding program Program must be 36 months minimum in running length Program must be 36 months minimum in running length Green Municipal Fund (application process to determine funding amount) Green Municipal Fund (application process to determine funding amount) NGO Funding NGO Funding Mountain Equipment Coop National Fund Mountain Equipment Coop National Fund

Contacts Brian Joynt – Manitoba ConservationBrian Joynt – Manitoba Conservation Tim Sallows – Park CanadaTim Sallows – Park Canada Bear deterrent informationBear deterrent information Bear management strategies for parkBear management strategies for park Barry Verbiwski, Hank Hristienko - CWSBarry Verbiwski, Hank Hristienko - CWS Black bear conflict management plan informationBlack bear conflict management plan information Black bear occurrence reports and statisticsBlack bear occurrence reports and statistics Manitoba RCMP, and RCMP representativeManitoba RCMP, and RCMP representative Still in contact to obtain another contactStill in contact to obtain another contact Victoria Beach ConstablesVictoria Beach Constables Waiting for data, they’re currently on vacationWaiting for data, they’re currently on vacation Victoria Beach Cottage Owners AssociationVictoria Beach Cottage Owners Association City of Port City of Port Jp Perreault – Manitoba ConservationJp Perreault – Manitoba Conservation Waiting for a replyWaiting for a reply Paul Paquet – Wildlife BiologistPaul Paquet – Wildlife Biologist

References Wild Eye Productions, BC. Living in Bear Country, Practical Advice on Living Responsibly in Bear Country. Canada, Funded by the provincial governments of British Columbia, and Ontario. Available from Distribution Access.