2025 Bear Safety Resolution

Spring is slowly starting to make its appearance on Anarchist Mountain. And with the warmer weather and longer days, we can expect to start to see signs that our resident black bears are awake and on the look out for easy to obtain calories.

To avoid our bears getting into unnecessary trouble and to keep our properties, families and pets safe, let's each do our part by committing to this easy to follow bear resolution:

• I will not put my garbage bin or dirty recyclables out until after 5:00 am the morning of collection. This is now an RDOS by-law requirement.

• I will give my garbage and recycling bins a good spray with vinegar or a 1:4 part mix of household bleach and water after each collection day.

• I will freeze the smelliest garbage (meat, fish, poultry scraps, cooking grease, etc.) and place the bag, frozen, into the garbage bin the morning of collection.

• I will take down all bird feeders and suet by no later than the end of March, and wash the feeders with a dilute mix of bleach and water. This not only removes smells that can attract bears, but also kills bacteria and pathogens that can linger and be deadly to songbirds.

• I will keep my BBQ (and smokers) clean of grease and bits of cooked or charred meat, and ideally stored in the garage or another secure area.

• I will keep my vehicles free of food and other enticing things (pet food, fast food wrappers), and keep the doors locks and windows up.

• I will keep my dog on a leash and under control at all times. Remember, it is against the law to let dogs chase or harass a bear or other wildlife.

• I will report any bear sightings to the Anarchist Mountain Fire Rescue Society (AMFRS) Wildlife Safety Program (wildlife@amfrs.ca) or, in cases of an aggressive or problem bear, the BC Conservation Officer Service (1-877-952-7277).

Let's all do our part to co-exist responsibly and safely with our amazing black bears!!

New 2025 RDOS Cart Program for Garbage, Recyclables and Yard Waste

What?!?!?! Something's changing?!?

In October 2024, the RDOS endorsed a plan to roll out carts for curbside waste collection. 

This new program supports implementation of RDOS Bylaw No. 2819, 2018, which requires garbage to be placed in a secure collection bin no earlier than 5 am on the morning of collection. Remember, even in winter, improperly secured attractants (garbage, BBQs, bird feeders, pet and livestock feed) can attract wildlife and result in safety issues that put wildlife and your family and pets at risk.

All residents in RDOS rural areas, including Anarchist Mountain, will start receiving new carts for garbage, recycling, and yard waste in June 2025. The new collection program is scheduled to begin in July.

The new RDOS cart sizes are as follows:

• 120 L garbage with wildlife resistant features (*see note below)

• 240 L recycle

• 240 L yard waste

If you already own a cart(s) that you think may fit within the RDOS size specifications, please email solidwaste@rdos.bc.ca as soon as possible with your name, address, photo(s), and description of your cart(s) to be considered as a customer-supplied container. The carts will need to be individually evaluated to ensure they are compatible with collection requirements. If your cart is approved by the RDOS to be adopted into curbside collection, you will receive a one-time rebate towards the cost of collection, the cart will become the property of the RDOS, and it must remain at your property if you move. If your carts break accidentally or suffer wear-and-tear, they will be replaced at no cost to the resident.

If your carts are larger than the new standard size (120 L garbage, 240 L recycle, 240 L yard waste), the RDOS will begin charging you the applicable fees for any additional waste volume. The cost for upsized or additional carts applies whether is carts are supplied by the resident or the RDOS.

*NOTE: The bear resistant garbage carts with clips used by some residents on Anarchist will be considered oversized under the new collection program. If you wish to continue to use your existing bear resistant cart, you will need to contact the RDOS and provide the details as outlined above so the cart can be assessed for use under the new program. 

Unlimited curbside yard waste collection will no longer be available on a monthly basis through the spring and fall. Rather, dates for unlimited yard waste collection will be scheduled by the RDOS on a one-time basis in both the spring and fall. Please consider the Anarchist Mountain Wapiti burn pit as an option for the disposal of allowable yard waste and debris. The pit is located just off Wapiti Way and Highway 3, and operates April through September. More information can be found at https://anarchistmountaincommunitysociety.com/. The 2025 schedule for the Wapiti pit will be posted once available, so stay tuned.

For further information about the new cart collection program, please visit the RDOS Regional Connections Curbside Collection project page at rdosregionalconnections.ca or email solidwaste@rdos.bc.ca. You can also contact the RDOS Solid Waste Hotline at 250-490-4129. 

Who's Who in the Wild - Through the Fog...

Dense winter fog on Anarchist Mountain - it can be beautiful in its grey simplicity. However, it also limits our ability to see potential hazards while driving, especially wildlife, people and pets, and other vehicles.

Every year, tens of thousands of animals are killed by vehicles on our highways and roadways. The risk of hitting an animal increases substantively when visibility is reduced and road conditions deteriorate, which can happen quickly. Wildlife typically most active at dawn and dusk, use fog to their perceived advantage of cover and travel more during the daytime. This poses an additional hazard, because they have greater difficulty seeing you or vehicles.

Here are some tips to reduce the risk to you and your family when driving in foggy conditions this winter:

• Slow down: Drive at a safe and reasonable speed for the road conditions, even if it's slower than the speed limit. 

• Increase following distance: Leave at least 10 seconds between you and the vehicle in front. 

• Avoid high beams: The light from high beams reflects off the fog and makes it harder to see. 

• Use your hazard lights: In dense fog, the flashing lights will make it easier for other vehicles to see you.

• Flash oncoming vehicles: If you observe wildlife close to or on the road, flash oncoming traffic to warn them of the hazard, brake slowly and give other vehicles space to react.

• Avoid passing other cars: The road is obscured, so it's best to avoid passing other vehicles. 

• Never stop on the road: If you can't navigate safely, pull over in a rest area or well off the road and wait for the fog to clear.

If you hit a large animal like a deer or moose, pull over to the side of the road if it is safe to do so and turn on your hazard lights to warn other drivers. Contact the RCMP and AIM Roads (1-866-222-4204 if the animal is blocking traffic or a threat to other drivers. DO NOT approach the animal under any circumstances - doing so could put your safety at risk and make a bad situation worse. If the animal is still alive or appears injured and wanders off, please contact the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 to report the incident.