In the West Kootenay region, a third grizzly bear from a famous family of four bears has been euthanized. The mother bear and her three yearlings had been drawing attention in Nelson as they roamed the area. Officials determined that the bears posed a threat to the community due to their habituation to humans and their scavenging behavior in yards and garbage.
Earlier this month, the mother bear, previously relocated from Nelson and returned, was put down along with one of the yearlings. The Conservation Officer Service of British Columbia stated that the yearling was not a suitable candidate for relocation due to its age and health issues, including a noticeable limp, possibly from injury or deformity.
While the other two yearlings, a male and a female, were relocated, the male bear reappeared in Christina Lake shortly after. Despite attempts, the male bear persisted in frequenting residential areas and was deemed unsuitable for a second relocation. Consequently, the male yearling was euthanized following provincial guidelines on human-wildlife conflict response.
Provincial wildlife biologist Garth Mowat remarked on the bears’ high level of habituation to humans, indicating a history of consuming human food. The relocation was seen as a final effort to encourage the bears to return to natural food sources and preserve part of the family group.
Andrew Milne of the Conservation Officer Service emphasized that euthanizing bears is a measure of last resort and a difficult decision for officers. With drought affecting berry crops in the region, more bears are expected to venture into communities in search of food. Officials urge residents to eliminate potential attractants such as fruit trees, garbage, and bird feeders to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.