A third grizzly bear from a renowned family of bears in the West Kootenay region has been euthanized. The mother bear and her three yearlings had been drawing attention in Nelson as they roamed around the community. According to wildlife authorities, they posed a threat as they had become accustomed to human presence and were scavenging in yards and garbage bins.
Earlier this month, the mother bear, previously relocated from Nelson, and one of her yearlings were put down. The Conservation Officer Service in B.C. determined that the yearling was not suitable for relocation due to its physical condition, showing signs of injury or deformity.
The two remaining yearlings, a male and a female, were relocated but later reappeared in Christina Lake. While the female has moved away, the male continued to frequent residential areas and was considered unsuitable for another relocation attempt. Consequently, the male yearling was euthanized in line with provincial guidelines for managing human-wildlife conflicts.
Wildlife biologist Garth Mowat noted that the bears had grown accustomed to human presence and had been consuming human food for several years. The relocation was attempted as a final effort to encourage the bears to return to natural food sources and preserve part of the family unit.
Andrew Milne from the Conservation Officer Service emphasized that euthanizing bears is a last resort measure and acknowledged the emotional toll it takes on officers, underscoring the careful consideration given to such decisions.
Mowat highlighted the impact of drought conditions in the B.C. Interior, resulting in poor berry crops that may drive more bears into communities in search of food. Officials are urging residents to eliminate potential attractants like fruit trees, garbage, and bird feeders to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
