Black Bears: Our Wild Neighbours

BLACK BEARS ARE BETTER AT SMELLING THAN WE ARE

A bear's nose is extraordinary. Its sense of smell is estimated to be more than 2,000 times more powerful than ours, which explains why something that seems insignificant to us can be remarkably interesting to a bear.

Their sight and hearing are broadly comparable to ours, but smell is their great strength.

This is why bear management around homes is mostly about one thing: food and anything else that smells like food.

WHY DOES A BEAR STAND UP?

One of the more startling things about seeing a bear is watching it stand upright. It can look remarkably human and, understandably, people sometimes interpret it as an aggressive gesture.

Usually it is nothing of the sort.

A bear may stand on its hind legs simply to get a better view of what is around it. Curious bear may have caught a scent in the wind and gone to check it out. It may be trying to work out what it is looking at, where another animal is, where it can go next or what has caught its attention. So a standing bear is not automatically an angry bear.

WHAT DO BLACK BEARS EAT?

Black bears are omnivores, but most of what they eat is plant material. Grasses, berries, fruit, nuts and other vegetation make up more than 80 percent of their diet. They also eat insects and other animal foods, and may take advantage of fish, small mammals or animals that have already died.

In summer and fall, berries can become an especially important food source. Bears can consume enormous quantities of them and are often found foraging in blackberry thickets.

They are essentially enthusiastic seasonal foragers, and they have very little interest in whether the food came from a forest, a berry bush, an apple tree or somewhere humans happened to leave it.

That last distinction matters to us.

WHAT BRINGS A BEAR TO MOUNTAIN TERRACE?

We cannot control what grows in the forest, but we can control what is available around our homes.

Bird seed and suet are highly attractive to bears, and hummingbird nectar can be just as tempting. At Mountain Terrace, where some suites have patios or decks close to trees and forest, a feeder can be surprisingly easy for a bear to reach.

For this reason, please do not use bird feeders or hummingbird feeders at Mountain Terrace if you live on a ground floor. And please do not assume that a feeder is safe simply because it is hanging high up or because it is brought indoors at night. Bears climb extremely well and may be active during daylight hours too.

REDUCE ODORS
It is important not to leave other food or strong-smelling items outside. Wash or rinse jars and cans before recycling, rinse any food residue off meat trays before placing them in your garbage.

If you have a patio or ground-floor outdoor space, please remember to:

· Keep food, pet food and treats indoors.

· Do not leave food on patio tables.

· Never leave a BBQ unattended while food is cooking.

· Clean the BBQ grill and grease trap after every use.

· Store condiments, cooking utensils and other food-related items indoors.

· Do not leave garbage or food scraps outside.

· Keep doors and windows closed when a bear is nearby, unless someone is present to monitor the opening.

· Keep anything edible or strongly scented out of a bear's reach.

· Store coolers, freezers or refrigerators indoors rather than outside.

· Put away inflatable pools, toys and other items that might attract a curious bear.

Ground-floor and any suites with easily accessible outdoor spaces have an especially important role to play because anything left outside is much easier for wildlife to investigate.

The simple rule is this:

Never leave anything outside that a bear could smell and decide is worth investigating.

A bear that finds an easy meal is very likely to remember the location. That is how an occasional visitor can turn into a regular one.

Note: North Vancouver has strict bylaws to prevent residents from attracting bears with garbage, food, and other attractants.

WHAT ABOUT A MOTHER AND CUBS?

If you see a mother bear with cubs, admire the sight from a distance rather than trying to get a closer look.

Female black bears generally try to avoid confrontation, but they are naturally protective of their young. The sensible approach is to give the whole family plenty of room.

Never approach a cub, and never position yourself between a mother and her cubs.

If you see a cub by itself, do not assume that it has been abandoned. The mother may simply be nearby and out of sight.

The safest thing to do is leave the family alone and give them a clear route away from you.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I MEET A BEAR?

Black bears are intelligent, somewhat timid animals that are not interested in people. However you might encounter a young bear (yearling or a little older) who is still trying to understand the world. Curious bear might approach you because he is used to humans being around or have been fed previously.

The most important thing is to stay calm.

If you see a bear at a distance, give it plenty of room and choose another route rather than trying to pass by it.

If you suddenly come face to face with one:

Stay calm. Do not run.

Keep your dog firmly on its leash and do not allow it to approach, bark at or chase the bear. Dogs can turn a quiet encounter into a much more difficult one.

Speak in a calm voice so the bear knows you are there.

Then slowly back away, leaving the bear a clear way out.

If a bear continues to approach, stand your ground, use a firm loud voice and make yourself appear larger by raising your arms or open an umbrella if you have one.

The important thing is not to crowd it.

And please resist the temptation to get out your phone for a close-up photo. A bear does not know that you are trying to get a nice picture for the website. Getting closer simply adds pressure to the animal and can create a much more difficult situation for everyone.

LIVING WELL WITH OUR WILD NEIGHBOURS

Living at Mountain Terrace comes with a few advantages that are difficult to put a price on: towering evergreens, gardens, the sound of water and a forest full of wildlife right outside our doors.

Occasionally, that wildlife happens to be a black bear.

A bear sighting can be exciting, memorable and, for some of us, a little alarming. The best thing we can do is remember that the bear is not visiting Mountain Terrace for us. It is looking for food, water, shelter or a quiet place to pass through.

We can make that easier for both of us by keeping food attractants out of reach, keeping our dogs under control and giving bears plenty of space when they appear.

In other words, we do not need to panic when a bear turns up.
We just need to behave like good neighbours.

Seen a bear?

Please report bear sightings and bear attractants to the North Shore Black Bear Society by calling or texting 604-317-4911, or through their website: North Shore Black Bear Society, or call the North Shore bear line at 604-990-BEAR (2327)

For a wildlife-human conflict where public safety is at risk, contact the B.C. Conservation Officer Service through RAPP at 1-877-952-7277.

For an immediate emergency, call 911.

BLACK BEARS AT MOUNTAIN TERRACE

For long-time residents of Mountain Terrace, spotting a black bear wandering through the grounds, ambling along Ostler Court or appearing at the edge of the forest may barely cause a raised eyebrow. For someone new to the building, however, seeing a bear outside the window can be a rather different experience.

The good news is that there is no great mystery to living alongside them. Mountain Terrace sits in a forested part of the North Shore, and black bears have been travelling through these woods and neighbourhoods for a very long time. They are our wild neighbours, not our pets, and the best relationship is one based on giving them plenty of space while making sure we do not give them a reason to linger.

A little knowledge helps. Here are a few things worth knowing about the bears we may encounter around Mountain Terrace.

THIS IS BEAR COUNTRY

The North Shore mountains and the forest of Indian Arm neighborhood provides exactly the sort of habitat black bears naturally use. They move through wooded areas looking for food, water and places to rest, and they may pass through residential areas simply because that is where their travels take them.

Bears are not strictly nocturnal either. They can be out during the day, and seeing one in broad daylight is not in itself a sign that something is wrong.

On the North Shore, bears are most active from March through November, although sightings can occur at any time of year. Some bears remain active later into winter, particularly when they can find food around people.

MOUNTAIN TERRACE HAS HAD SOME SPECIAL VISITORS

Black bears are surprisingly comfortable in water. They swim well and may use ponds, creeks, rivers, lakes and even the sea to cool off, travel, find food or simply enjoy themselves. We know this from personal experience.

A couple of years ago, one of our residents stepped out onto the deck with his morning coffee and discovered two black bear cubs relaxing in the pond and then playing on the lawn. They had apparently decided that Mountain Terrace offered a refreshing summer spa.

In June 2026, adult rather skinny bear was seen trying to break open rat traps that had been installed around the building by an extermination company. Apparently, the smell of the bait was irresistible.

An important lesson from both encounters: bears have exceptionally good noses and can be attracted by things we might never expect. If a bear finds its way onto the property, the safest thing we can do is give it room and let it decide when to move on.

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