A dozen bears wreak havoc in BC community, moving in ‘like they own the place’

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Up to a dozen brazen bears have moved into a B.C. First Nations community, where they’ve been hanging out on residents’ doorsteps and near the local daycare.

The Adams Lake First Nation, near Kamloops in the B.C. Interior, said their bear count this year is nearly double what is normal.

Chief Nelson Leon said the bears aren’t afraid of the residents and they’ve essentially moved in like they own the place.

Leon says a bear and her cub were captured today and will be relocated, and if residents can capture a few more that might take off some pressure until the bears go to hibernate in a few weeks.

It’s been a very dry few months in the area, and Leon believes the bears have come on to the reserve looking for more food to fatten up for the winter.

B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake has said as many as nine of the habituated bears may have to be put down, but Leon says they see the animals as brothers and the last thing they want to do is destroy them.