Quebec’s wildlife protection agency neutralizes polar bear spotted in Gaspé region

MONTREAL – Quebec’s wildlife protection agency says a polar bear that was spotted Saturday on the province’s Gaspé peninsula has been killed.

Sylvain Marois, southeast district commander at the agency, says the bear was found in a wooded area near the town of Madeleine-Centre, Que., later that day.

The provincial police lifted the warning alert early Sunday for residents, who were asked to stay indoors until the animal was captured.

Marois says the polar bear was killed for public safety reasons, as being outside his natural environment could have made the animal more aggressive.

The event marks the first time a polar bear has been spotted on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Marois says it’s not clear how the bear got to the peninsula, but believes he might have swum or taken advantage of some ice.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 1, 2022.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.