Conservation officers euthanized two black bears in Lake Cowichan Thursday in separate incidents, after both bears appeared to show minimal fear of humans.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service received multiple reports that the bears appeared conditioned to human food and had accessed unsecured garbage.
One of the bears also damaged a shed, entered a home and tried to get into another, the Conservation Officer Service said.
The loss of fear of humans and repeated efforts to access human food and homes made the bears poor candidates for relocation, because the risk to the public would be too great, it said.
“We recognize this is distressing news for many people. Putting down any bear is an unfortunate outcome we work so hard to prevent,” the service said in a statement.
Conservation officers are confident based on the bears’ size and physical characteristics that neither one is the animal that swiped a bag of gummy bears from a Lake Cowichan gas station this week.
Officers are monitoring bear activity in the area and continue to receive reports of sightings.
The service said residents need to ensure attractants such as garbage, pet food and bird seed are securely stored to help prevent bears and other wildlife from accessing them.
Fruit from fruit trees should be removed from trees and the ground, it said, adding securing garbage is the single best way to help keep people, and bears, safe.
For tips on securing attractants,visit WildSafeBC.
