08/30/2026
British Columbia is seeing more human and wildlife conflict each year, but the programs that help prevent these problems do not have stable funding. WildSafeBC coordinators work only part of the year, and their jobs depend on short contracts and small grants. They teach communities how to manage attractants and reduce conflict, yet they do this without long term support.
The recent resignation of a coordinator in Nelson shows how thin the system has become. WildSafeBC does not make enforcement decisions, but the public sometimes blames them when wildlife is destroyed. This puts pressure on people who are only meant to guide and educate. Without stable funding, they do not have the protection or structure needed to handle these situations.
The Bear Smart program has slowed down, and many communities are left to manage conflict on their own. When education programs shut down for the winter, attractant problems grow. This leads to more calls to conservation officers and more animals destroyed. The solution is simple. The province can fund permanent year round education positions and give communities clear support. Stable funding would help coordinators stay in their roles, build trust, and keep outreach active all year.
British Columbia has the people and the knowledge to make coexistence work. What is missing is steady funding. The resignation in Nelson is a sign that the system cannot rely on seasonal contracts forever. Communities need year round help, and wildlife needs programs that do not disappear when the season ends.
