District of North Vancouver councillor Betty Forbes is spearheading a resolution to UBCM to redefine how British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) handles conflict situations involving black bears and cubs. The resolution highlights concerns regarding the agency’s lack of oversight and transparency.
Two residents also wrote recently about the record number of black bears killed by COS in 2023.
Forbes says the BCCOS currently operates without independent external oversight when making decisions regarding handling black bears and cubs in conflict situations. She stresses that the absence of a mandate requiring orphaned black bear cubs to undergo health assessment and treatment by qualified wildlife veterinarians contributes to a broken public trust. She also raises concerns about the increasing number of black bear cubs being euthanized without proper evaluation of their threat levels or consideration of alternative care options.
The proposed resolution calls for significant changes to BCCOS protocols, including establishing an independent civilian-led oversight board to review actions taken by conservation officers. It also advocates for orphaned bear cubs to be transported to wildlife sanctuaries for health assessments and treatment by qualified professionals. She also proposes that the Solicitor General audit BCCOS actions, policies, and procedures to ensure accountability and transparency.
Coun. Betty Forbes emphasized that the public trust regarding the treatment of black bears, particularly cubs and yearlings, has eroded due to questionable decisions made by the BCCOS. She contends that many of the black bear cubs euthanized were not posing threats to citizens or property and were not habituated to human garbage, making their deaths unnecessary and potentially harmful to the black bear population.
The BCCOS operates under the Community Safety and Police Act but lacks external oversight mechanisms common in other government entities. Forbes believes establishing an independent oversight board would enhance transparency and accountability and ultimately rebuild public trust in the BCCOS.
Forbes cites examples such as a recent incident near Comox, where a cub wandering near a highway was euthanized despite not posing a threat to human safety. The decision to euthanize the cub sparked community outrage as wildlife organizations had offered to provide care at their own expense.
Forbes emphasizes the urgent need for policy changes and calls for increased transparency, accountability, and oversight within the BCCOS to prevent unnecessary euthanizations and rebuild public trust in wildlife conservation efforts.
Thank you.
‘WE’, have caused all this conflict !! It is up to ‘US’, to fix this.
I really don’t care for all the excuses of ‘cost’, or success of relocation, or the bear may be relocated in another bear’s territory, plus all the other excuses.
Ask the bear, “Do you want to die today, or give it a try in another territory?” What do you think the response would be ?
Thank you for addressing this shocking and disgusting situation.
J
Stop this nonsense, Do Not Kill our bears, relocate, rehab sanctuary .
thank you Counc. Forbes for finally addressing this terrible situation