Coquitlam Community Seminars | Kids & Adults

The following are some current community seminar programs regarding wildlife in Coquitlam, BC.
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Parks & Recreation

"Summer 2011 Activities & Programs"
http://www.coquitlam.ca/NR/rdonlyres/0769FD14-EEB3-410F-970D-6F437D30BED3/112122/Summer2011webFINAL.pdf

Seminar: Insects of Forest and Pond (6 yrs and up)
About: Learn about insects, worms, spiders and more.  Discover who hides under leaves on a forest bug hunt.  Join a pond dip and net snails, beetles and damselflies.  In partnership with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
Location: Minnekhada Regional Park
Event Code: 358285
When: Wed Aug 24  10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $8.00
For more details & sign up go to http://signmeup.coquitlam.ca/signmeup/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=162889148&SDT=40764.6640625

Seminar: Lazuli Bunting Walk (all ages)
Details: Observe one of North America’s most beautiful song birds, the Lazuli Bunting.  More common to the Interior, the Lazuli’s only known nesting site in the Lower Mainland is Colony Farm Regional Park.  Program delivered by Colony Farm Park Association, Burke Mountain Naturalists, Nature Vancouver
and Birds on the Bay.  For more information contact Elaine at (604) 937-3483 or www.bmn.bc.ca.
Location: Colony Farm Regional Park
Event Code: 358294 When: Sat Jun 4  9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Cost: Free
Event Code: 358295 When: Sat Jun 4  3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Cost: Free
For more details & sign up go to http://signmeup.coquitlam.ca/signmeup/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=162889148&SDT=40764.6640625

Seminar: Damsels and Dragonflies (3 - 5 yrs)
Detail: Join your child in fun, outdoor activities.  Search for flying dragonflies and damselflies and use nets to catch the young ones in the water.  Pretend to be a dragonfly, play damselfly catch and learn how to identify them.  Co-sponsored by Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
Location: Minnekhada Regional Park
Event Code: 358286
When: Sat Aug 13  10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $12.00
For more details & sign up go to http://signmeup.coquitlam.ca/signmeup/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=162889148&SDT=40764.6640625

Seminar: Children’s Workshops: Let’s Learn About Lady Bugs (4 - 12 yrs)
Detail: It’s time to take a closer look at our small, black spotted red friends, the ladybugs, a beneficial insect that eats many pests in the garden.  Children will have fun creating their own ladybug while learning more about these beneficial bugs. There will also be a chance to release ladybugs into the Inspiration Garden. Children 8 and under must be accompanied by a mature adult.
Location: Town Centre Park - Inspiration Garden
Event Code: 358446
When: Tues Jul 5  10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Cost: $5.00
For more details & sign up go to http://signmeup.coquitlam.ca/signmeup/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=162889148&SDT=40764.6640625

Seminar: Grasshoppers, Wolf Spiders, Leaf Hoppers (3 - 5 yrs)
Detail: Share the fun of exploring grassy fields with your child. Enjoy insect games and grassland activities in this hands-on introduction to these small creatures.  In partnership with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
Location: Colony Farm Regional Park
Event Code: 358283
When: Sat Jul 23  10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $12.00
For more details & sign up go to http://signmeup.coquitlam.ca/signmeup/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=162889148&SDT=40764.6640625


"Fall 2011 Activities & Programs"
http://www.coquitlam.ca/NR/rdonlyres/0769FD14-EEB3-410F-970D-6F437D30BED3/114135/Fall2011FINALweb.pdf

Seminar: Coyote by Night (6 yrs and up)
Details: Go on a coyote prowl and learn about these wily and adaptable creatures.  In partnership with MetroVancouver Regional Parks.
Location: Colony Farm Regional Park
Event Code: 368329
When: Sat Sep 24  6:00 pm- 8:00 pm
Cost: $8.00
For more details & sign up go to http://signmeup.coquitlam.ca/signmeup/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=162889148&SDT=40764.6640625

Seminar: Mason Bees Seminar (15 yrs and up)
Details: Pasquale Gnocato, expert on Mason Bees, will share his knowledge of the native Blue Orchard Mason Bee, a native to BC.
Location: Town Centre Park - Inspiration Garden
Event Code: 366855
When: Sat Oct 22  10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Cost: $5.00
For more details & sign up go to http://signmeup.coquitlam.ca/signmeup/Start/Start.asp?SCheck=162889148&SDT=40764.6640625



A couple other expired events from this Summer that is worth keeping an eye out for, encase another one gets posted are:

Bear Stories (6 yrs and up)
Join Coquitlam’s Bear Aware Coordinator to hear fascinating stories and facts about our local black bears.  See amazing and amusing photos of Coquitlam’s bears and learn what to do if you encounter one.
Free

Turtle Talk (5 yrs and up)
Learn where to observe turtles in Coquitlam and how to identify the different species found in BC.  Find out what you can do to protect them.  In partnership with the Ministry of Environment.
Free 

If  you know of any other community events, let me know and I will post it on my blog. Thanks.

Anmore Bear attack | August 8, 2011

On one of my other blogs I wrote about the Anmore Bear attack in Anmore yesterday. After writing that I decided to create this blog. This is the write up I did on my other blog http://moorethoughtsbysam.blogspot.com/
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Another Bear looses her life for protecting her cubs, just from natural instinct.

Just after 7am, Monday August 8, 2011 a mother Black Bear attacked a local resident in an instinct to protect her cubs whom were in close proximity to the resident and his dog who where just on a morning walk.

The man was not majorly injured but did walk away with some minor scrapes from the mother and a head wound from a rock he fell on when he dove down a small embankment in an attempt to get away from the charging mother. The mother stood over the gentleman as he gave him her warning. She then turned around and walked away. The man and his dog then came up the embankment back towards her, which is something you don't do. Don't ever walk towards a bear, always walk away. The dog got away and took off after the mother bear provoking another, unnecessary attack.

The mother bear had two opportunities to do some major damage to the gentleman if she really wanted to but instead she just tried to scare them away, like we would do to them normally. Fortunately, the gentleman's neighbour was driving up the road towards them and sounded his horn to scare the bears away.

The mother and her cubs were well known to the community of Anmore. They were aware of their presence but neglected on containing their garbage properly so not to encourage bear activity in their community. Six weeks earlier the Coquitlam Bear Aware Coordinator did a seminar in the community since the activity of these Bears and others were increasing due to their need for food sources.

It's such a shame that this mother had to loose her life. Simple steps could have been taken to prevent her death and their activity within the community. Now three cubs are left motherless and not stuck in a rehabilitation center in Langley.

Check your local community seminars for any Bear Aware nights. The more time we take to learn about our furry neighbours the safer we can keep our community and our bears. If or when I come across some seminars I will post them here so subscribe to my blog or check back often.

My neice and I recently came face to face with a Bear in Port Coquitlam. Because we were talking to one another the bear knew we were there and was not spooked. We had no issues with him/her who was only a few feet in front of us. http://cait-sam-nature-adventures.blogspot.com/

Sources:
A mother black bear that was shot and killed:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/08/08/bc-bear-attack.html
Anmore bear pays price for garbage-eating:
http://www.globaltvbc.com/technology/Anmore+bear+pays+price+garbage+eating+ways+following+attack/5224770/story.html
Anmore has to shoulder some blame for a bear attack:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-villages-lax-attitude-toward-garbage-storage-cited-in-bear-attack/article2123449/
They are not man-eaters:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/127272338.html
Seminar held 6 weeks prior in Anmore:
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Bear+attacks+Anmore/5223318/story.html

Video from CTV.ca (second half features Coquitlam Bear Aware Coordinator Drake Stephens):
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110808/bc_buntzen_lake_bear_attack_110808/20110808?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
Two (2) Videos from CBC.tv (recommend 2nd video titled "Bear attacks man in B.C."):
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/08/08/bc-bear-attack.html

Wildlife activity in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam & Port Moody

Within the past year I have really been intrigued by the Bears in our area. It mostly started with a seminar I went to a couple months ago in Coquitlam hosted by Coquitlam Bear Aware Coordinator Drake Stephens.

We have heard quite a bit of Bear activities in our communities this years. Every where you look, whether its a sign on the street, at a trail head or in the news paper or on TV, you can find some sign of bear activity & human encounter.

I have decided to start this blog after a recent attack in Anmore on a man and his dog by a mother bear attempting to protect her three cubs. It was such a shame that the mother lost her life due to human neglect on garbage disposal.

My intent with this blog is to help educate, not just the community, but myself as well through stories, research and experience. I myself have recently come face to face with a bear during a trail walk in Port Coquitlam and have also had contact with bears in the past. My recent encounter was less intimidating for me as I had just attended the 'Bear Stories" that Drake put on and I felt better being a bit more educated and knew what to do and I was fortunate that it went smoothly. This doesn't mean I feel comfortable just yet, I look forward to additional learning, not only with Bears but with all our local animals. We get a lot of Coyotes here as well but its not only Bears and Coyotes that make me nervous, I am also nervous with Deer, Raccoons and Skunks, etc. I want to educate myself on all these animals as well.

Through the duration of my learning, I want to pass this information on to you, so please subscribe to my blog to keep updated on what I learn and the activity that goes on in our neighbour hood.


Provincial Bear Aware website: http://www.bearaware.bc.ca/

Coquitlam Bear Aware website: http://www.coquitlam.ca/Residents/Public+Safety/Bear+Aware+Coquitlam.htm

Report Bear activity to conservation officer service at 1-877-952-7277