Latest news with #FruitTreeRemoval
CBC
6 days ago
- General
- CBC
G7 money going toward keeping bears out of Canmore through fruit tree removal
Social Sharing More than a month after the event ended, June's G7 summit continues to affect the Bow Valley. The Town of Canmore and the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley are expanding its Fruit Tree Removal Incentive program, through funding from the global gathering earlier this summer. The program, first introduced in 2019, offers a financial incentive for property owners to remove fruit-bearing trees, in an effort to keep bears from being attracted to the town. What's new this year is additional funding for fruit-bearing trees to be replaced with new trees. "We set aside in excess of $28,000 that is specifically earmarked to pay for replacement trees in the community here in Canmore," said Biosphere Institute executive director Gareth Thompson.. The initiative will reimburse the cost of tree removal for up to $500 per property, with this year's additional funding offering up to $500 for tree-replacement costs. "We know from our evidence that it will go better if we can offer to replace the tree that the homeowner removes," said Thompson. The funding will enable the town to support fruit tree removal and replacement for up to 70 homes, said Thompson. Non-native plants like crabapple and cherry trees can be found in the backyards of some Canmore residents, potentially drawing in hungry bears. "They're beautiful plants, but we're just coming to realize in the last decade that these represent a big hazard because they attract bears into town, often resulting in the bear's death," said Thompson. He pointed to an incident last August in which a black bear was destroyed after eating crabapples in a Canmore backyard. "Here in Canmore, we take our wildlife very seriously, and even the death of one bear is too many." Thompson said by keeping bears away from Canmore, the fruit-bearing tree removal program is supporting nature. "There's abundant food in the woods and the area surrounding the town of Canmore," he said. "So we're actually keeping more bears in the ecosystem by removing these food attractants in town." Black bears and grizzlies are currently seeking out high-calorie food like fruits, as they prepare for hibernation. Human-wildlife coexistence a priority for G7 Town of Canmore communications advisor Nicky Pacas said the town is really lucky to have local programs benefit with funding from the G7. She said the funding stems from human-wildlife coexistence being a "priority concern" for the summit. "They wanted to put some funding in place for after the summit to benefit the residents of Canmore, and to focus on sort of these priority areas that they were trying to draw attention to, also during the summit," she said. Eligible replacement trees include trembling aspen, balsam poplar, fruitless spring snow crabapple trees, and river or paper birch. Due to the one-time nature of the funding, the tree-replacement program is only being offered this year. A similar initiative took place prior to the G7, when buffaloberry bushes were removed in Kananaskis Country to keep bears away from the summit.
CTV News
31-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Canmore now paying residents to replace fruit trees, not just remove them
The Town of Canmore is once again offering to reimburse residents who remove fruit trees from their property, but says it will now also cover the cost of a replacement tree. The Town of Canmore is once again offering to reimburse residents who remove fruit trees from their property, but says it will now also cover the cost of a replacement tree. Canmore launched its Fruit Tree Removal Incentive Program in 2019 in an effort to reduce bear encounters. 'Accessing fruit trees is the number one reason why bears in the Bow Valley are relocated or killed,' warned the city, said a Thursday news release. 'Because bears are especially food-focused in the late summer and fall, they are more likely to take risks, like coming into towns and backyards in search of something to eat. When bears learn where to find food, they are likely to return with bolder, more aggressive behaviour. As a result, bears may be killed or relocated to protect people and their pets.' On Thursday, the town announced a new incentive for program participants – thanks to the support of the G7. 'Ahead of the June summit, the G7 expressed interest in supporting sustainable options to reduce wildlife conflicts within Canmore, and worked with the Biosphere Institute to identify where the most significant gains could be made.' Ambassadors from the Biosphere Institute found that residents were more likely to remove a fruit tree if they were also compensated for replacing it. As such, the Fruit Tree Removal Incentive program has been expanded to include financial support to cover the cost of replacement trees. Property owners approved to participate in the program will be reimbursed for 100 per cent of the pre-tax cost of removing fruit trees or bushes up to $500 for a residential property – or $1,000 per condo association or commercial property (for removal of five or more trees). They also be reimbursed for 100 per cent of the pre-tax cost to replace the removed trees with a non-fruit-bearing alternative up to $500 for a residential property – or $1,000 per condo association (for the replacement of five or more trees). For more information or to apply for the initiative, you can visit the Town of Canmore's website.
