The number of bears killed in Kamloops has dropped from a peak of more than 100 a decade ago to just three in 2009.

The rapid decline -- credited to community programs and a change in strategy from the B.C. Conservation Officer service -- made Kamloops the province's first official Bear Smart community.

Environment Minister Barry Penner made the announcement Monday at B.C. Wildlife Park. It recognizes a partnership between the City of Kamloops, Thompson-Nicola Regional District, B.C. Conservation Foundation and the province.

Among the efforts to reduce bear-human conflicts are education programs targeted at residents to ensure they don't let fruit litter their yard and keep garbage inside; a City bylaw restricting curbside garbage to the same morning as delivery; and strategic land use planning to lessen interaction.

“It's been said a fed bear is a dead bear,” Penner said, noting the focus of efforts is to keep bears away from people and their garbage.

“We're teaching people how to change their behavior so bears don't get into trouble.”

When bears do get in trouble they always come out on the losing end.

Jacques Drisdelle, the provincial co-ordinator for the non-profit B.C. Conservation Foundation's bear aware programs, said while complaints to conservation officers have doubled to 20,000 in ten years, the number of bears killed is way down.

“We were destroying 1,000 black bears on average and about 55 grizzly bears.”

This year the number of black bears destroyed by conservation officers in the name of safety is 600. About 40 grizzlies were also killed.

One of the key reasons for the decline is change in policy by the ministry. Conservation officers are only dispatched to bear complaints if the animal is aggressive and there is a clear danger to people.

Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar said he still receives the odd complaint from people unhappy they cannot put their garbage at the curb the night before pick up.

“Hopefully we'll see the three number (destroyed bears in Kamloops) is not an aberration but will continue down to zero.”