Friends of Cortes Island Society (FOCI), is reaching out to the Cortes community with a friendly reminder that... Cortes Island IS black bear country and we can expect the return of black bears this fall, 2021, when their need to bulk up for the winter brings them back to Cortes Island.

Proactive measures to... “secure all attractants”, will serve us well in reducing conflict with black bears. Please review our 5-point bear primer attached below and posted throughout the community in public places, to ensure you have everything on hand and in place to support these efforts.

One of the important lessons learned in last year’s conflicts with black bears in Whaletown and Squirrel Cove, was that electric fencing is the ONLY effective fencing to keep bears out of, off of and away from, attractants. Outdoor freezers, fruit trees, composts, cold storage areas and livestock (includes bee hives) are all attractants... that need to be “secured” by protecting these areas with electric fencing.

To this end, FOCI has produced a short video on electric fencing, to provide Islanders with a first step up towards purchasing, installing and maintaining electric fencing. The google drive link to this video is attached below.
Tamara McPhail/ Linnaea Farm and Autumn Barrett-Morgan/ FOCI Wildlife COEX, walk & talk you through the basics of electric fencing and are available for 1:1 support in the community.
FOCI has partnered with Black Creek Farm & Feed Supply, who are giving 10% off on all electric fencing supplies to Cortes residents participating in FOCI’s Wildlife COEX Bear Smart Program; e-mail FOCI at, friendsofcortesgmail.com to sign up.

THANK YOU for proactively working together with us to reduce conflict with black bears on Cortes Island.