VPD responds as residents report increase in bear banger explosions

It’s an issue that appears to be getting worse for some residents.

Over recent days, Vancouverites have taken to social media to report what they say is an increase in the amount of bear bangers that are being set off in the city – particularly around the Downtown Eastside and nearby neighbourhoods.

I’m interested in understanding why there are so many loud disturbing bangs (daily almost hourly) happening in the #DTES over the last few months and why the @VancouverPD have not dealt with this problem and what they plan to do about it?

— VanMusic (@VanMusic) May 22, 2020

This is a problem happening in the #DTES with bear bangers and/or explosives and we have heard nothing about this problem, is this bothering anyone else and wondering why nothing is being done about it? @VancouverPD @VIAwesome @VancouverSun @DailyHiveVan @MetroVancouver https://t.co/OuMfnmdgD8

— Jordan (@JordanVanMusic) May 22, 2020

More bear bangers. Anyone in the DTES want to get together and find this jerk? City won’t do anything; might as well do it ourselves.

— eastvanhalen (@eastvanhalen) May 19, 2020

Have counted eight bear banger explosions in my area In @CityofVancouver on the last hour @VancouverPD . Another sleepless night coming up. #vancouver #warzone

— Vee J (@vancityvee) May 25, 2020

Another night of bear bangers, three separate sets of explosions already. Haven’t slept properly in days. Can we just ban this shit like we did with fireworks?

— 🍁 Nerd Whisperer 🍁 🇨🇦 🇫🇮 (@Majord0m0) May 23, 2020

Just read the myriad threads on Reddit Vancouver describing the uptick in violence, weapons, bear bangers going off all night… It’s so bad right now my family is currently avoiding parts of the neighborhood. Worried about how they’ll reopen Crosstown Elementary safely.

— 🍁 Nerd Whisperer 🍁 🇨🇦 🇫🇮 (@Majord0m0) May 20, 2020

In response to these and other similar concerns, VPD Sgt. Aaron Roed told Daily Hive that police get “routinely” notified of these incidents, and “this has not gone up in the past little while.” It remains, however, “an ongoing issue with officers being notified of these loud bangs and people lighting off bear bangers.”

If people are witnessing the lighting of these bear bangers, Roed said they should contact and notify police. He also encouraged people to notify the city’s 311 complaint line.

“Public safety is always our main concern, and when these incidents are reported, VPD officers will look into each incident.”

Used primarily in the backcountry as an added safeguard against bear encounters, bear bangers make a loud gunshot style noise and are intended to scare bears away without harming them.