Conservation officers went to a West Vancouver home on Tuesday, hoping to speak to the residents.
The family living at the home is at the centre of an investigation after videos surfaced on social media showing two young girls feeding two bear cubs and a sow from the open doors and windows of their home.
They appear to be offering the animals things like crackers and French fries, and are even hand-feeding them through a window.
The posts date back at least a year. The latest post is from July 10.
The family was either not home or did not answer the door Tuesday, but conservation officers say they are taking the situation very seriously.
“There certainly could be charges under the Wildlife Act,” conservation officer Lonnie Schoenthal told Global News. “Up to $25,000 or six months imprisonment.”
WATCH: Video captures B.C. family hand-feeding black bears
Every year, between 200 and 400 black bears are put down in B.C. after becoming habituated to human food or garbage and becoming a safety hazard.
“If it becomes habituated and starts getting food rewards in communities, then it’s going to stop eating its natural food sources and rely on this and become a public safety threat, and therefore we may have to put that animal down,” Schoenthal said.
Conservation officers say they will be back to the home as they continue their investigation.
-With files from Catherine Urquhart and Jon Azpiri
- ‘It’s nice to be the villain’: Vancouver Canucks gear up for Game 3 in Nashville
- ‘Why aren’t we doing more?’ White Rock on edge with killer on the loose
- Joffre Lakes to close for 3 periods this year under agreement with First Nations
- B.C. carjacking victim says she doesn’t trust ‘catch-and-release’ system
Comments