Fruit snacks lure black bears into West Vancouver home

Two black bears walked into a British Properties home last week after food was left out, according to an update from West Vancouver Police Block Watch coordinator Jeff Palmer.

Palmer said a family in the Southborough area was enjoying time in their yard when they spotted the bears standing in the doorway. Officers later confirmed the animals had left on their own. The bears appeared to have been drawn inside by fruit snacks in an open laundry room.

Black bears are especially active at this time of year and can detect food from long distances, Palmer noted. He urged residents to take precautions to avoid attracting wildlife.

Palmer said black bears are especially active this time of year and can detect food from long distances. He reminded residents to keep ground-level doors and windows closed when unattended, avoid storing food or attractants in vehicles, garages or sheds, and manage odours inside storage areas.

He also advised freezing meat, fish scraps and grease until collection morning, washing recyclables in hot soapy water, cleaning garbage and organics containers with vinegar, and only placing diapers in garbage on pickup day after flushing solids.

More information on bear safety is available at northshorebears.com.

Fraud cases drop

Police also reported a drop in fraud cases this summer, with eight reports since July 1 compared to 28 during the same period last year. But Palmer warned that suspects remain active. In one recent case, a resident was tricked into entering their banking information on a fraudulent website after receiving a call from someone posing as bank staff. Unauthorized transactions began soon after.

“Be very suspicious of any such call,” Palmer said. “Hang up and call your bank directly from a different phone, or visit your branch in person to confirm the safety of your accounts.”

Meanwhile, the Block Watch Society of B.C. has updated the title of “Block Watch Captain” to “Block Watch Lead.” Palmer said the change is meant to be more inclusive while emphasizing coordination rather than authority.

Anyone noticing suspicious activity is asked to call West Vancouver police at 604-925-7300 for non-emergencies, or 911 if there is an immediate threat.