Smarter than the average bears on grizzly crime spree

VANCOUVER, Canada (AFP) - A grizzly crime spree has shocked the well-heeled residents of Whistler, a swank western Canadian ski resort which will host alpine events in the 2010 winter Olympics.

Bears, which have learned how to unlock car doors and crack open dumpsters, are being blamed for nearly 100 house and car break-ins in the scenic mountain village so far this year.

Other nearby towns have reported double the usual number of bear-related incidents. Even residents in Vancouver suburbs 150 kilometers (105 miles) south made a whopping 1,500 calls to conservation officials after spotting bears.

"We're concerned about what might happen, especially when a bear comes knocking and somebody is home," said conservation officer Chris Doyle. "Anytime you get a bear and a person in a confined space, there is definitely potential for a physical encounter."

An unusually hot summer prematurely dried up berry crops in mountains where black bears normally feed, sending them into built-up areas to scavenge for food.

A population boom which has produced 100 extra bears in the Whistler region has created more competition for food.

Bears are attracted by the smell of food, garbage, backyard composts, bird feeders and an abundance of lush fruit trees and ripe berries in gardens.

Some have learned how to turn doorknobs to get into homes. Others simply ripped the doors off their hinges. They have popped out car windows or bent car doors. A few people even saw bears bouncing on large commercial dumpster lids to crack them open.

"I wouldn't call them smarter than the average bear, but they're agile, intelligent and driven animals," said Doyle. "When they want to get into someone's kitchen or vehicle, they use all their skills and resources."

Four persistent and aggressive bears were destroyed this year, and 11 more were captured by conservation officials and relocated. Last year, only one nuisance bear had to be destroyed.

Some activists argue that humans should learn to live with bears, particularly since development is infringing on their habitat.

One incident when officers shot a bear getting too close to party-goers at an outdoor music festival shocked witnesses and spurred a public outcry against lethal measures.

But Doyle sees few alternatives, noting that relocation, thought to be more humane, is actually very stressful on bears. Some are unable to fend for themselves in unfamiliar surroundings and some are attacked by other territorial bears.

"In Whistler, there is a high tolerance for bears in the community, but people still don't want bears in their home or threatening public safety or causing excessive property damage," Doyle said.