Skip to content

Our mission & history

Our mission.

Revelstoke Bear Aware Society’s mission is to reduce human / bear conflict through education, cooperation and active management initiatives in the community of Revelstoke and surrounding area.

The Revelstoke Bear Aware Society is registered under the provincial Societies Act, #S-48316. We are a registered charitable organization under the federal Income Tax Act.

RBAS_mission_hero-600

Our history.

Revelstoke and our regional district neighbours care about keeping our bears wild and our community safe.

RBAS_outreach
RBAS_member_helps

How did Revelstoke Bear Aware start?

The Revelstoke Bear Aware program was borne of the determination and compassion of the citizens of our community. In 1994, our landfill was surrounded by electric fencing and bears were no longer able to feed there. Grown accustomed to garbage as a food source, local bears turned to garbage in the city. That year 62 bears were either killed or relocated. The following year, the berry crop failed and 23 bears were killed and 25 were relocated. The community was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the hazards of bears in our neighbourhoods, and upset about the number of bears being shot.

In an effort to remedy the situation, local citizens and agencies such as City of Revelstoke, Parks Canada,  Columbia Shuswap Regional District, the provincial Conservation Officer Service, and others, founded the Revelstoke Bear Management Committee. The committee developed strategies that would reduce bear-human conflicts and the unnecessary destruction of bears. The result was the creation of the Revelstoke Bear Aware Program, with a paid coordinator to deliver our community education program.

The goal of the Revelstoke Bear Aware Program is to identify and reduce human behaviour that attracts bears to urban areas. The results have been impressive. Before the education program was implemented, an average of 27 bears were killed in Revelstoke each year. Now that average is less than 7. The Revelstoke program was so successful that in 1998 it served as a model for the province-wide initiative of the British Columbia Conservation Foundation’s Bear Aware program (now part of WildSafeBC).

In 2004, the non-profit Revelstoke Bear Aware Society was created to formalize the delivery of the the Bear Aware education program in the town and regional district. The society continues to work with the Revelstoke Bear Management Committee, and other partners and supporters.

Get involved.

WHAT’S ON OFFER

Learn more about
our programes

Whether it’s the farmer’s market or a presentation at the local school, we’re here to share and educate.

THE MAIN EVENT

Sign up for Bear Aware Affair events

We’re always on the look out for great people to join our team and volunteer at events like the Bear Aware Affair.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Volunteering opportunities

From community outreach to fruit picking, there are so many ways to get involved and make a difference.

Connect on social.

Find us in all the usual places & stay up to date with the latest news & sightings in Revelstoke.

More to discover:

RBAS_bear aware_trio
BE BEAR AWARE

Living in bear country

Discover how to keep our community safe and Revelstoke’s bears wild.

RBAS_get involved_trio
TAKE ACTION

Get involved

Make a difference locally when you volunteer, donate or become a member.

RBAS_report_trio
SIGHTINGS

Reporting a bear

Find out who to inform and what information to share when you spot a bear..

Bear Awareness

At home & residential

Outdoors & recreation

Bear Sightings

Discover

Take Action