A “highly habituated” two-year-old bear was killed by conservation officers in Britannia Beach on June 6.
The young black bear was first captured in Squamish and brought to Critter Care in Langley and then released back into the forest in the Sea to Sky area. It was relocated again after making its way back to town, only to show up in Britannia Beach this time.
The bear was roaming Britannia Beach and breaking into garbage cans, bird feeders and garages in search of food. A phone call prompted conservation officers to intervene when it was spotted breaking into a chicken coop and killing the birds inside.
“It wasn’t this specific incident; It was an accumulation… We didn’t have a choice – he was above the threshold of tolerance,” said Cst. Simon Gravel of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, adding a trap was set for the bear but it didn’t go inside.
He said the bear was eating mostly garbage and had become indifferent to humans.
While bears aren’t as common in Britannia Beach as they are in Squamish, said Gravel, residents still need to be bear smart and store their garbage properly.
“The likelihood that another bear will visit the community he high,” he added.
In Squamish, two bears, both with cubs, are looking for garbage to eat in the downtown and Dentville areas of Squamish.
“Unfortunately, this sow is teaching her offspring behaviour that will lead to more conflict in the future,” WildSafeBC said on its Facebook page.
The organization is seeking volunteers to help with door-to-door-education on how to properly store garbage. Email [email protected] for details.
Click here for tips from the District of Squamish about how to keep bears out of neighbourhoods.
