Bears have to be part of beekeeping review

EDITOR’S NOTE — The following letter was written to City Hall in resonse to a proposal to allow backyard beekeeping in Kamloops.

I listened with interest this morning to a presentation on the local CBC station by a beekeeper advocating for the amendment of our current bylaws to allow beehives within the city limits.

While I cannot dispute the benefits that a healthy bee population will bring to the city I feel that we must look seriously at the issue of bears and the problems they will no doubt create amongst the beehives and host neighbourhoods.

I recall an incident several years ago when a Westsyde resident had to deal with a bear that repeatedly destroyed his beehives in his backyard.

If I remember correctly this gentleman became quite frustrated at the lack of assistance he received from the both the City bylaw officials and the B.C. Conservation officers and he eventually took it upon himself to destroy and dispose of the animal.

The gentleman was eventually charged and convicted of the offense but I wonder if we (the City and the Province) are any better prepared today to deal with any bear issues that might arise from their contact with beehives.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

NEIL MARSHALL

Kamloops

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