Animal rights advocates are calling for change after RCMP fatally shot a mother bear in Coquitlam.
Police were called on Saturday to the Westwood Plateau area when the bear, known to area residents as Betty, and her cubs entered a home through an unlocked front door.
The sow ended up in the backyard and video showed the bear charging toward an RCMP officer.
The Conservation Officer Service said the bear had a history of property damage and displayed no fear of humans, but others say her killing was unnecessary.
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“From what I’ve been told, I mean she’s been around for quite a few years and neighbours in the area that she’s lived really enjoyed her,” Ellie Lamb, a bear behaviour educator, said.
“It was very disturbing, and it will be a long time before this community will overcome this kind of trauma.”
The two cubs were found inside the home and taken to Critter Care Wildlife Society in Langley for rehabilitation.
The reporting on this story has some errors.
1. The cubs did not open the house door – the residents left their front door open and the mother bear and cubs entered and proceeded to tear apart the kitchen looking for food.
2. The mother bear when outside and beyond the fence gate where the officer was standing was separated from both her cubs who were still in the kitchen, tearing it up. The mother would have tried to get back into the house to get her cubs. The officer likely had to shoot both for himself and the household.
3. The homeowner mother and young child were trapped upstairs while the cubs were in the kitchen.
4. BC Conservation personnel did not arrive to take the cubs until more than an hour after the incident.
5. The cubs were temporarily stored in two RCMP SUV’s until they could be transferred to BC Conservation custody.
6. The story ended with information that bears who enter homes are not eligible for relocation – all 3 bears were in the house.
It is extremely unfortunate that the mother bear had to be stopped as she was, but the house residents provided the opportunity for the bears to enter the house.
So sad they feel the need to kill them 😞😞