Sooke, Vancouver Island
This motion triggered camera trap image shows a young black bear (Ursus americanus) as it leaves the forest and walks into the suburbs of Sooke on Vancouver Island. My research looks at where bears are spending their time along a gradient of human disturbance from urban-wild and the relationship between that use of space and the amount of human-bear conflicts the residents experience. Knowing the patterns of conflict can help reduce future problems and allow for bears and people to coexist.