Deep Cove business owner seeks ‘Justice for Plum’

A Deep Cove business owner is calling upon the community to sign a petition asking local and provincial governments to do more to prevent the killing of black bears, and to focus efforts on conservation.

The petition was started by Jennifer McCarthy, the owner of Bluhouse Market & Cafe and it comes after Plum, a bear often seen in Deep Cove, was killed by Conservation Officer Service in this month.

“There is zero excuse for the endangerment of the Black Bears we share this community with. After all, we moved into their home,” McCarthy says in her petition.

The petition is calling on the District of North Vancouver to immediately increase the minimum fine for contravention of the District’s Solid Waste Removal Bylaw from $100 to $500.00 with a zero tolerance policy.

“This means eliminating the first warning practice currently in place. There is ample public education to support this motion,” the petition says.

The petition also calls upon the Provincial Government and Premier John Horgan to implement an immediate change to the oversight of the British Colombia Conservation Office Service.

“Residents attest that Plum was not an aggressive bear and that she died needlessly. This must change,” the petition says.

Meanwhile, the District of North Vancouver is looking to increase fines through amendments to its solid waste bylaw.

In a column she recently wrote for the North Shore Daily Post, Luci Cadman, the education coordinator for North Shore Black Bear Society also urged residents to manage bear attractants.

“Plum showed us every day that she was responsibly coexisting with us. Residents let us know that she passed through their property, that she was calm, easy-going, and was easy to move on when asked. Bears do not spend time close to our homes in order to hurt us,” Luci wrote.