The Conservation Officer Service has confirmed that it has destroyed an adult black bear that was frequenting the Lynn Valley area.
A Ministry of Environment representative told the North Shore Daily Post the bear was displaying ‘habituated and food-conditioned behaviour’.
The bear was named Rufus by the North Shore Black Bear Society.
The ministry official said the bear was showing minimal fear of people, was feeding on garbage, and frequenting school grounds and residential areas at all times of the day.
It was also not responding to hazing efforts, including attempts to chase the bear out of the community.
“The escalating behaviour of this bear was very concerning to Conservation Officers and deemed a public safety risk by subject matter experts,” the spokesperson said.
“We understand people are passionate about wildlife, but this bear was not a candidate for relocation – the risk to the public was simply far too great.”
Luci Cadman, the director of North Shore Black Bear Society, said bears are part of the community and residents can expect to see them during the day.
If everyone acts to minimize food opportunities for bears around homes and businesses, we can dramatically reduce a bear’s reason for staying in urban areas.
Please be proactive and do not wait until a bear visits, Cadman says.
“If a bear visits your home go to a deck or window, use a firm tone and make eye contact from your safe place. Be persistent and encourage the bear to leave. The aim is to set boundaries with our tone which bears understand and respond to, not to make bears afraid of people. Please do not use bear bangers or allow your dog to chase a bear,” she says.
The North Shore Black Bear Society has recently launched a new website with extensive information on the best practices for responsibly sharing the North Shore with bears.
Learn how we can coexist and help us to end the unnecessary suffering and deaths of our peaceful bears at northshorebears.com
Aholes..!!!!!!! 😡😡
RIP Rufus 😞😢
You deserved ALOT BETTER THEN THIS..!!
Phone Conservation Office speak to Dwayne as a concerned citizen. Ask them how a habit can be dangerous to the public. Tell them to stop killing/ slaughtering animals.
Why don’t they kill raccoons ? Why don’t they kill all animals who forage for food . Was this bear aggressive ? Then he should have been left alone.do we kill just on the off chance someone could be dangerous ? I know I had a bear in my garden cause my iron Eiffel Tower was completely flattened .only a heavy bear could of done it.do I care no . Would I call it in No , what for when a bears life to me is worth way more .