Exciting news for BC SPCA Kids Club members! The Vancouver Canucks’ team captain, Henrik Sedin, is on the cover of the latest Bark! magazine. And that’s not all! Along with their copy of the magazine, every Kids Club member will also receive a special edition Henrik Sedin poster.

The spring issue of Bark! is your official kindness to animals guide. Learn about Henrik’s kind act and find lots of ideas for activities you can do to show kindness to cats, dogs, small animals, wildlife, farm animals and other people.

Bark! will be delivered to Kids Club members within the next week. Copies will also be delivered to school libraries across B.C., so if you aren’t yet a Kids Club member, visit your library to check it out! Want to make sure you receive future issues of Bark! to keep, plus other fun stuff? Sign up for the Kids Club today.

In springtime, it feels like the whole world is waking up. Leaves return to trees, flowers bloom and black bears actually wake up from hibernation!

During their winter hibernation, bears don’t eat – meaning they are very hungry when they wake up. If human food scraps or pet food are easy to get, you can bet a black bear will help himself.

But wait! If humans and bears get too close, there can be risk to both our safety and theirs. That’s why we need to make sure bears don’t have access to human food, by following these tips:

• Garbage/recycling bins: Keep inside until pick-up day; clean bins regularly.
• Compost: Cover food scraps with dry leaves or dry grass clippings; freeze fruit and add in small batches instead of all at once; turn compost regularly and keep covered.
• Back yards: Bring pet food dishes inside; keep barbecues clean and covered; pick up fallen fruit from trees.
• Spread the word: Tell your friends and neighbours to be bear aware and follow these tips, too!

Black bears are fascinating animals, but we need to remember that there can be danger in getting too close. Learn more about black bear behaviour and how to stay safe.

Have you heard? BC SPCA summer camp registration is now open for eight locations in the Lower Mainland and Victoria!

Camps are already filling up, so be sure to sign up early to guarantee your spot. Learn all about pets, wildlife and farm animals with fun games, crafts and visits from animal experts. Plus, there will be chances to interact with animals throughout the week!

Not in the Lower Mainland or Victoria? Registration will open soon for more of our locations throughout the province. Visit spca.bc.ca/camp to learn more and check out locations that will be holding camps this year.

*If you are a Kids Club member but did not receive your summer camp discount code, please email us at kids@spca.bc.ca.

April's Furry Friend of the Month is Spud, an adorable two-year-old cat.

Spud is a sweet guy with a big personality, looking for the right family to call his own. He's comfortable around other cats so could make a good addition to a home that already has a feline. Spud is available for adoption from the Kelowna SPCA.

Please note: Spud was available for adoption at the time this article was written, and may have found his forever home since then. Visit the BC SPCA website to discover more furry friends currently looking for homes.