Nov 15 2006

A GRIZZLY sow and her cub who posed a safety risk to humans for several weeks were destroyed by a local resident Nov. 5.

The grizzly sow and her 1-1/2 year old cub showed up three times at a residence near the Kleanza Creek and Bornite Mt. area Nov. 4 and 5, leading a resident to shoot both bears to save his property and his dog, who scuffled with the bears on their last visit, said conservation officer Darryl Struthers.

Afterward, the resident called conservation officers to report what happened and provide a statement to them, which is required under the Wildlife Act, he said.

Conservation officers arrived and recovered the bears’ paws and claws to distribute to local first nations for ceremonial uses, a common practice if a first nation requests the items and completes a permit.

While the resident’s actions were declared by conservation officers to be appropriate in this situation, it’s not recommended because a wounded bear can pose a further threat to public safety, Struthers said.

What makes the situation worse is that the sow had been relocated once already, as shown by an ear tag.

The sow had broken into the Northern Lights rehabilitation centre in Smithers - where some wild animals are rehabilitated before their release back into the wild - and killed at least one moose calf in care there three years ago, explained Struthers.

She was caught afterward and relocated.

“This bear was originally relocated because she accessed a natural food source,” he said referring to the moose calf.

For whatever reason, the sow brought her family into residential areas afterward, found food from humans and learned that residences are easy sources of food.

“Unfortunately once they accessed human food they lost their fear of humans,” Struthers said.

Once bears associate residences with food sources, even though people in an area don’t have any attractants around, the bears still come through the area.

The sow had been in the company of two cubs and had been spotted between lower Thornhill and Kleanza for several weeks. One cub was shot and killed a couple of weeks ago.

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© Copyright 2006 Terrace Standard