The North Shore Black Bear Society is a non-profit organization. We work in partnership with local and regional governments and other groups involved with black bears and bear attractant issues. Our education program is delivered by Executive Director, Holly Reisner, and Program Coordinator, Kirstin Takashiba. We are helped by a team of dedicated volunteers across the North Shore. We support residents, visitors and bears in the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and the District of West Vancouver.
Our educational outreach is provided year-round in the following ways:
- Responding to reports made to us by phone, email and social media regarding black bear, cougar and coyote behaviour and attractant management. The North Shore Black Bear Society has a direct cell line (604 317 4911) which is managed by the Executive Director. Callers who select option #1 on the District of North Vancouver’s Bear Line [604-990-BEAR (2327)] are directed to the Society’s voice mailbox. Messages left for the NSBBS on the District Bear Line are checked each day.
- Engaging presentations to groups, including general public, elementary schools, Guides and Scouts, summer camps, English language learners, park rangers, specialist outdoor groups, and companies operating in bear habitat.
- Door to door neighbourhood outreach where bear activity has been reported.
- Proactive outreach in hotspot communities and community workshops.
- Placing ‘Bear-in-Area’ signs in the City and District of North Vancouver. West Vancouver Parks place signs in their district.
- Maintaining a database on black bear, cougar, bobcat and coyote activity on the North Shore.
- Interactive displays at all major North Shore community events and trailheads.
- ‘Welcome to Bear Country’ mail-outs to new homeowners on the North Shore.
- Maintaining a website and creating content for our Social Media platforms (Instagram and Facebook).
- A variety of media opportunities including print, radio, podcast and television interviews and columns published throughout the year.
- Writing educational bear columns for local newsletters.
The North Shore Black Bear Society is part of the North Shore Bear Working Group, a bi-monthly meeting of partners working to reduce bear activity in urban environments, including the BC Conservation Officer Service, the District of North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, the District of West Vancouver, Metro Vancouver and RCMP.
THE TEAM
The North Shore Black Bear Society hires two part time staff members, Executive Director, Holly Reisner, and Program Coordinator, Kirstin Takashiba. Our board of directors and volunteer team share their time to support the Society’s outreach.
Holly was born and raised in Westlynn in North Vancouver, and she and her husband Henry raised their three children in Seymour, where she still resides. “Having grown up seeing black bears regularly in our backyard, and having had many more encounters around our home and on the trails in North Vancouver, I have never lost the magical feeling of awe they and our other wildlife inspire. I am honoured to be able to help North Shore residents learn about the true nature of these beautiful animals, so we can live together peacefully.”
Kirstin is a long term North Vancouver resident and a passionate bear educator! She worked for BC parks as an interpreter in her earlier years as well as various environmental education roles before she went on to become an elementary school teacher. She has since retired from teaching, but continues to enjoy talking about all things ‘bear’ with school groups and the general public. She believes strongly in the NSBBS and all the work that has been done on the North Shore to protect our lovely bears.