A Castlegar, B.C., resident has been ticketed after shooting an arrow at a bear scavenging through garbage cans.
The incident occurred last week in the driveway of the resident’s Castlegar home.
The resident fired an arrow at the bear, severely injuring it. As an act ofmercy, an RCMP officer who had been called to the scene shot the bear with a gun.
Conservation officer Ben Beetlestone told the Canadian Press there was no other option but to euthanize the suffering bear. “The injured bear had to be put down,” he says.
While it may be your first instinct to attack the bear with nearby hunting weapons, Beetlestone advises residents to instead call the police or conservation officers. “You can’t be taking matters in your own hands,” he said. “It’s not condoned at all. It’s not safe.”
If a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety, such as wandering into public areas, killing pets or stalking people, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources suggests calling 911.
If you see a bear roaming around, checking garbage cans, breaking into a shed where food is known to be stored and are not in immediate danger, call the Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327.
Related Story It’s now illegal to hunt bears in Alberta with a spear
Related Story B.C. man gives up grizzly hunting license after talking with First Nation chief