It seems we have many bear sightings in our neighbourhoods this summer. Everyone can do their part to reduce attractants and prevent bears from leaving their natural habitat where they live healthier and safer lives.

The North Shore black bears are around and looking for food. They are attracted into our neighbourhoods by:

• garbage (including diapers)
• bird seed and hummingbird food
• composts
• dirty barbecues
• fruit trees (and fallen fruit)
• pet food (that is left outside)
• unwashed recyclables
• refrigerators and freezers that are stored outside
• litter

Bears have an outstanding sense of smell and they can locate these attractants from far away. They also have great memories so they can remember the location of food sources for a long time. Please help to keep bears out of your neighbourhood by removing bear attractants. One house with available attractants can keep bears coming back to an entire neighbourhood year after year.

If you have a bear in your neighbourhood, the North Vancouver RCMP suggest calling the Bear Conservation Officers at 1-800-663-9453.

The North Shore Black Bear Society has many tips to help you and your neighbours with the management of bear attractants. Please contact us at 604-990-BEAR if you have any questions.

Summer safety reminders:

• Break and Enters are higher in the summer months because people leave their doors and windows open. Please remember you still need to keep your front and side doors and windows locked when you are outdoors in your back yard and no one is in the house. People tend to leave second story windows open but this is still an invitation to intruders. Put ladders away to prevent easy access to these windows.
• Lock garden sheds where you store all the tools an intruder needs to break into your home.

Going away tips:

• Have a trusted person pick up your mail and newspaper daily. – Allow a neighbour to park their car in your driveway while you’re away.
• Use light timers inside to make your house look lived in.
• Have motion sensor lights outside.
• Leave a general message on your phone; don’t leave a message that lets people know you’re away.
• Cancel scheduled deliveries while you are away (newspaper, milk, organic produce, etc.)
• On garbage day, have a neighbour put a garbage can by your curb.
• Make sure your alarm system is in working order and that there is someone who knows your alarm code and can attend if there is an alarm.
• Inform a trusted neighbour of the dates you will be away and leave them a number
  where you can be reached in case of emergency. Leaving a key with a trusted neighbour, relative or friend might be an option. Make certain that whoever has access to your home will know what to do in case of an emergency.
• If you’re thinking of taking an extended vacation or plan to leave your home unattended for several weeks, consider a house-sitter. A house-sitter is a person who lives in and cares for a house while the regular occupant is away.
• Check with your home insurance provider if leaving your home vacant for an extended period of time. Some policies require the home to be inspected at certain time intervals to ensure the home is secure.

Please remember that home security begins with you. The Block Watch Office wishes you a safe and fun-filled summer season!

If anyone needs a little help to dispose of something in the dumpster I would be pleased to help time permitting. I am here on Thursdays and Fridays.
If you need some assistance leave a message with your name, unit number and phone number on my office answering machine (604-876-5336) and I will get back to you.

A few facts about Ice Melter

The application of Ice Melter increases the number of freeze/thaw
cycles. This increases the possibility of damage to concrete
especially if your walk has any cracks, etc.

Ice Melter is not recommended on the following surfaces:

• Concrete that is less than 1 year old.
• Patterned and/or coloured concrete.
• Stone or brick masonry (including flagstone)
• Precast concrete (steps or paving stones).
• Exposed aggregate.

Of course the above should be weighed against the risks and hazards of
slippery walks.

Ice Melter on carpets and flooring

One of the main ingredients in Ice Melter is potassium chloride. It
melts into the snow and creates brine. If the concentration is great
enough a dry white residue may be left after evaporation. These
residues are water soluble and are normally easy to remove. Staining
or residue is greatly increased by over application.

Pets

Ice melters are relatively safe to pets when applied correctly. In
today’s age of green, packaging can be misleading. Just because the
bag is green and there are two children and a dog on the bag doesn’t
mean the product is any different than other ice melters.

The main ingredient is potassium chloride.

Often the product is coloured (green). This can lead you to believe
that it’s an environmentally 100 % safe product. The true purpose of
colouring the product is so you can see where you have tossed it.

Plants

All ice melters that contain chlorides release salts as they form a
brine solution. Damage can be caused by direct or indirect contact.
Damage usually results from shovelling snow containing ice melter onto
vegetation. Damage is not usually evident until spring.

Application

The recommended application is:

1. If you know you have an area that requires Ice Melter and you
   apply a light application before it freezes this will cut down on the
   freeze/thaw cycles.
2. Remove excess snow before application.
3. The recommended spread rate is ¼ to ½ cup per square
   yard, or 50 to 100 grams per square metre.

SEASON’S GREETINGS, James