A sub-adult male grizzly bear was shot and killed by a property owner in the Stillwater area, south of Powell River, early in the morning on Friday, July 22.
“We were awoken at about 6:30 am by the dogs,” said Tristan May, the property owner. “My wife looked out the window and noticed the goats were out and they should have been in their barn.”
A bear suddenly came around the corner, said May, who then went downstairs to grab his rifle.
“By the time I was outside he had one of the goats pinned,” said May. “He reared up and I shot him. He travelled about 250 feet to where he died and when I got out there and found him, I realized it was a grizzly bear.”
According to BC conservation officer Andrew Anaka, immediately after May shot the bear, he called the Conservation Officer Service (COS) and reported the incident. COS confirmed the animal was a grizzly bear.
It was an unusual occurrence, according to Anaka, with hundreds of black bear sightings for every grizzly bear sighting that gets reported. He said grizzlies are occasionally seen on the outskirts of town.
“The last one seen in town was about six years ago,” he said. “We think that one worked itself down Powell Lake, eventually coming through Mowat Bay. It was trapped at Timberlane Park and relocated up the coast.”
Anaka said the grizzly shot was a sub-adult male, three or four years old, and could be one of three bears working their way closer to town since early spring.
“They were last seen, two together and a third one apart, near Tin Hat Junction in the last couple of weeks.” he said. “They’ve been reported working their way down from the Eldred River, Dodd Lake, Nanton Lake and finally near Tin Hat about 10 days ago.”
Due to an abundance of food in the backcountry, the number of bears wandering into Powell River so far this year is down dramatically, said Anaka.
“There have been very few wildlife conflicts so far this spring and into the summer,” he said.
Anaka said there are statutes that allow for property owners to protect livestock and kill wildlife, such as wolves, cougars and bears that come into conflict.
“The Wildlife Act does provide for livestock owners to protect their property,” he said. “If a person validly kills wildlife and has been duly diligent in preventing the encounter from happening, they’re covered and protected under the law.”
Anaka added that if that should happen, the property owner must immediately report to the COS that they have killed wildlife.
With two grizzlies still wandering in the bush, Anaka said if people do encounter a grizzly, or any dangerous wildlife, “look big, make some noise, back away, keep your eyes on it and report to the COS.”
To make a report, call 1.877.952.7277 or #7277 on the Telus mobility network.
