Two bear cubs and a mother bear were killed over the weekend of May 7 and 8 in Cranberry, the cubs by a resident and the mother by conservation officers.
Constable Chris Bakker of the RCMP said police were called to the area in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 7 after residents heard four shots fired. Police arrived on the scene to find two bear cubs shot and killed inside a resident’s chicken coop. Bakker said all of the person’s firearms were licensed and that RCMP will not be pressing charges for firing a gun in a residential area because they believe it was done in a safe manner and for the protection of property.
Conservation officers were called in to investigate the incident and had to take action themselves against the mother bear. The officers are now investigating any potential breaches of the Wildlife Act and were unable to give many details due to the ongoing investigation.
Officer Gerry Lister said charges will be pressed if appropriate but he can’t say yet whether that is the case. Lister did say the incident can serve as a reminder to be diligent about keeping yards free of attractants for bears, such as fruit or garbage. Discouraging bears from entering a yard through the use of deterrents is also recommended. Lister said conservation officers should be notified of any bears that are of concern or do not respond appropriately to humans.
Conservation officers also had to kill a cougar north of Powell River on Southview Road on Wednesday, May 4 after it killed six sheep in a farmer’s yard. Officers trapped the 90-pound mature female cat using humane legholds before destroying the animal.
Officer Andrew Anaka said these kinds of attacks from cougars can happen any time of year and in any part of the region. He said people who have livestock need to remember to protect their animals. Anaka suggests putting animals in a barn at night, installing good fencing, moving animal pens to open areas, installing motion sensor lighting, leaving a radio on and/or getting a larger dog to guard animals.
Anaka said he finds cougars to be one of the most fascinating animals in the wilderness, but that their behaviour is extremely difficult to predict and can be potentially deadly.
“They are your house cat times 100, in every shape and form,” said Anaka. “They’re a hundred times more powerful, they’re a hundred times more sneaky, they’re a hundred times more capable of killing things.”
As a side note to the story Anaka, who arrived back in Powell River this year after 30 years away to take the conservation officer job, said the farmer whose sheep were killed taught Anaka the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation course in Powell River in 1974.
To report a conflict with wildlife readers can call 1.877.952.RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters).
