A black bear was killed by the Conservation Officer Service (COS) in Emerald this week after it was found inside a locked vehicle.
In an alert, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) said the COS responded to a call in the north-end neighbourhood on Wednesday, July 28 and found the bear had accessed the vehicle. The same bear was tagged last fall and had been previously relocated for breaking into vehicles.
“Ultimately the bear was food habituated and knew vehicles were a food source, making it a significant threat to public safe,” the alert read.
The RMOW noted there were “very few reports made by residents of the bear in the area so the COS did not have the opportunity to conduct hazing efforts.” The COS encourages early reporting in order to allow officers to intervene with non-lethal hazing methods before a bear becomes habituated and a potential risk.
Residents and visitors are reminded to: always lock vehicle doors and to remove all attractants from vehicles; remove any attractants from your property, such as dirty barbecues, bird and humming bird feeders, garbage, recycling, food wrappers, ect.; never approach or feed a bear, and maintain at least 100 metres between you and a bear at all times. If you encounter a bear, keep your distance, back away slowly and leave the area. Report any bears in residential areas by calling the COS RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
Learn more at whistler.ca/bears.
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