Do you have fruit trees or berry bushes on your property? If so, you will need to be diligent to harvest ripe and fallen fruit daily to prevent bears from discovering this easy to access treat. Next to garbage, fruit is the second most common backyard attractant for bears and other wildlife.
Why not enjoy your fruit or share it with your neighbours? The following tips may help you harvest fruit and berries at the right time to avoid waste and unwanted backyard visitors!
• Rhubarb – the stems will be long and a deep pink.
• Strawberries – ripe fruit is glossy and deep red; will be sweet and juicy.
• Cherries – will become firm when ripe.
• Berries(raspberries, blackberries, loganberries) – they will be a rich colour, soft to touch and will come off the bush easily.
• Apples – fruit will fall from the tree easily and will be crunchy and full of flavour (some late-season varieties need to be stored to fully develop their flavour).
• Pears – harvest when still firm and store in a well-ventilated container until you are ready to eat them; if left to ripen on the tree their flesh can become gritty.
The following list is a guideline for when various fruits are ready for harvest; but bear in mind that ripening may be subject to weather such as an extra warm summer resulting in fruit ready for harvest earlier than usual.
• June – gooseberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, strawberries
• July – black currants, cherries, gooseberries, loganberries, raspberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, strawberries, white currants
• August – early-season apples, blackberries, blackcurrants, cherries, plums, raspberries, strawberries,
• September – mid-season apples, blackberries, elderberries, plums, raspberries, strawberries
• October – mid-season apples, elderberries, pears, plums, raspberries, strawberries
• November – late-season apples
Do you have fruit and no use for it or too much for your household to consume? Would you like to have fruit? Please email [email protected] and we will do our best to put interested parties in contact with each other to help manage this backyard attractant and prevent human-bear conflict.
Please include in your email:
• If you are giving fruit away or if you would like fruit
• If you are able to harvest the fruit yourself or if you require someone to harvest it for you
• Your location and contact information
• If you are able to deliver fruit or “pick up only”
• Type of fruit and whether it is ripe, overripe or ripening soon
Be sure to call the Conservation Officer Service if a bear is a risk to public safety or causing property damage. Keep in mind that fruit trees are considered a semi-natural food source and manage accordingly.
To report any wildlife-human interactions where public safety may be at risk, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277).
Information provided by Christina Brack, Director of Communications Bear Smart BC Society and Crystal McMillan, Executive Director Bear Smart BC Society
For more “Bear Smart” information, questions, concerns or to volunteer please contact:
Dawn Boyce 250-723-2187 or Christina Brack 250-723-9200
Email: [email protected]
For more information on the Ministry of Environment Bear Smart Community Program or the Bear Smart BC Society please call: Crystal McMillan at 250-650-9653