A bear in Coquitlam, British Columbia has been euthanized after residents reportedly fed it watermelon, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The incident occurred on July 5th, when residents in the area of Lansdowne Drive and Mariner Way began feeding a black bear pieces of watermelon. The RCMP received multiple reports of the bear being fed by residents, which prompted them to issue a warning to the public.
Sergeant Todd Hunter of the Coquitlam RCMP stated, “Feeding bears, intentionally or unintentionally, is incredibly dangerous for both the animal and the public. Bears that become accustomed to human food can become aggressive and pose a serious threat to public safety.”
Despite the warning, residents continued to feed the bear, causing it to become increasingly comfortable around humans. This ultimately led to the decision to euthanize the bear.
The BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) was also involved in the decision to euthanize the bear. Sergeant Hunter explained, “The COS is responsible for managing wildlife in the province and they determined that the bear was too habituated to humans to be safely relocated.”
The COS has strict guidelines for dealing with bears that have become habituated to human food. According to their guidelines, bears that have been fed by humans must be euthanized as they pose a significant risk to public safety.
The RCMP and COS are reminding the public to never feed bears or any other wildlife. It is important to keep a safe distance from wild animals and to secure all food sources to prevent them from becoming habituated to human food.
The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the consequences of feeding wild animals. The RCMP and COS are urging the public to follow their guidelines and to report any sightings of bears or other wildlife to the appropriate authorities.
