By David Burke, Whistler Question, October 26, 2006

Animal trapped in Alpine is eighth bear put down in ’06

An adult male black bear that had been breaking into homes and vehicles was trapped and destroyed by conservation officers in Alpine Meadows last Friday (Oct. 20).

“Monty” became the eighth bear destroyed by officers in Whistler this year after it was caught in a live trap on Thursday night (Oct. 19).

Chris Doyle of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said Monty had been trapped and collared earlier this season. He said that despite of attempts at non-lethal deterrence, the bear had continued to break into homes and vehicles.

Seven of the eight bears destroyed by officials this season in Whistler had been breaking into homes. Last week’s destruction was the first one so far in the month of October.

“We’d done some hazing on it, not a lot, but that (break-ins) was the kind of behaviour we can’t tolerate,” he said.

Doyle said bear-related activity remains high, both in the Whistler Village area and outlying areas. He said extra officers have been rotating through the community for the month of October to ensure that 24-hour coverage is maintained.

“It’s quite busy around the Village late at night, after 2 a.m.,” he said. “Four or five bears have been coming into the Village on a fairly regular basis, and there are some other bears running around the fringes. They’ve been tipping over garbage bins in Alta Vista and Creekside.”

To report bear sightings or other bear-related incidents, please call (604) 905-BEAR (2327) or 1-877-952-7277.