About Wildlife Wise Canada
The Story Behind WWC
The Founder
Gerald J. Shaffer
"The Bear Guy" — Roberts Creek, BC
For over two decades, Gerald Shaffer has been one of the most hands-on voices in human-wildlife conflict management in British Columbia. His work began not in a classroom or a government office, but in the field — going door to door with Conservation Officers, talking to homeowners about bear attractants, and building a network of speakers to reach schools, businesses, and councils across the Sunshine Coast.
As the Bear Aware Coordinator for the BC Ministry of Environment, Gerald developed community-based education programs that reached thousands of residents. He invented the first smell-proof wildlife garbage container — a practical, real-world solution to one of the most common causes of bear conflict. He traveled to the International Bear Conference to share what he had learned from the ground up.
Wildlife Wise Canada is the culmination of that lifetime of work — a national platform that takes everything Gerald has learned and makes it freely available to every Canadian who lives, works, or travels in wildlife country.
Published Work
Gerald the Bear Guy: Adventures & Lessons in the Wild
Shaffer Media, 4th Edition — 2025
A blend of whimsical storytelling and hard-won practical wisdom, this book follows Gerald's journey from curious naturalist to one of BC's most respected wildlife educators. Through twelve chapters of real encounters, dream-world dialogues with bears, and field-tested advice, it makes wildlife coexistence accessible and compelling for readers of all backgrounds.
Get the Book on Amazon
Credentials & Experience
Bear Aware Coordinator
BC Ministry of Environment — Sunshine Coast Region
Inventor
First smell-proof wildlife garbage container
International Delegate
International Bear Conference representative
Published Author
"Gerald the Bear Guy: Adventures & Lessons in the Wild" — Shaffer Media, 2025
Speaker Network Builder
Schools, businesses, government councils, door-to-door with Conservation Officers
WorkSafeBC Educator
Employee safety programs including Employment Standards Act wildlife provisions
Founder
West Coast Wildlife, Roberts Creek BC — Est. 1998
Our Mission
Why Wildlife Wise Canada Exists
Canada has excellent wildlife management programs, but the gap between what wildlife professionals know and what the average Canadian understands is enormous. That gap costs lives — both human and animal. Most wildlife conflict is preventable with the right knowledge, applied at the right time.
Wildlife Wise Canada exists to close that gap — with practical, beautiful, non-political coexistence education for every Canadian, regardless of where they live or why they are near wildlife.
Our Approach
All recommendations are grounded in current wildlife science and legislation.
Hikers, homeowners, employers, and teachers all have different needs. We serve each one.
From the Sunshine Coast to Nunavut — every province, every major species.
Prevention and education, not reactive management. Let the practical content speak.