In the West Kootenay region, a third grizzly bear from a notable family of four has been euthanized. The mother bear and her three yearlings had been drawing attention in Nelson by frequently roaming the area. Wildlife authorities deemed them a threat due to their habituation to humans and tendency to scavenge in residential areas.
Earlier this month, the mother bear, previously relocated and brought back to Nelson, was put down. One of the yearlings was also euthanized because it was not a suitable candidate for relocation, given its poor health and possible injury. The remaining two yearlings, a male and a female, were relocated but later reappeared in Christina Lake. While the female has left the area, the male continued to linger in neighborhoods, leading officials to decide against another relocation attempt and euthanize it.
Provincial wildlife biologist Garth Mowat highlighted the bears’ high level of comfort around people and their reliance on human food sources. Despite efforts to reintroduce them to natural foods, the bears failed to adapt, resulting in the need for their removal from the community. Andrew Milne of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service emphasized that euthanizing wildlife is a measure of last resort and a challenging decision for conservation officers.
Mowat warned of increased bear activities in communities due to poor berry crops caused by drought conditions in the B.C. Interior. Residents are urged to eliminate potential attractants such as fruit trees, garbage, and bird feeders to mitigate conflicts between humans and wildlife.