Habituated bear killed in Kelowna

Conservation Officers euthanized a black bear last week that had become conditioned to feeding on garbage in Kelowna.

Officers killed an adult male black bear on Dell Road in Rutland after it became “highly human habituated and garbage-conditioned which caused it to be a threat to public safety,” according to the service in a press release.

READ MORE: Central Okanagan bear-resistant garbage bins project wrapping up soon

In May, Kelowna Conservation Officers received 60 reports of bears accessing unprotected garbage, jeopardizing public safety, breaking into a home and a vehicle to access food. In B.C., it is an offence to feed or leave attracts for dangerous wildlife.

Relocation does not work with human habituated and food-conditioned bears, according to the service. These bears when relocated often return to their original home territory or become "problem" animals in other communities.  In addition, translocated wildlife often fail to adapt to their new habitat and, as a result, may starve to death or be killed by the animals that already occupy the area.

WildSafeB.C. said the number of bear sightings reported this month is below a five-year average of 90 bears. There were also eight cougars reported this month so far which is slightly above average with six reported overall on a five-year trend.

“It is important to be aware these numbers do not represent the number of animals in our communities, but do provide an overview of wildlife activity and related trends, including that the spring and fall are when there is the highest potential for bear conflicts in our local communities,” according to WildSafeB.C.

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