On Sunday, July 16, the Conservation Officer Service (COS) received reports of a yearling male bear entering an occupied home in Spring Creek. The same bear had also entered two homes the day before, and a garage that had people inside of it.
The bear displayed aggressive behaviour: attempting to enter closed windows and bluff charging the homeowners as well as the responding CO. The quickly escalating behaviour posed a risk to public safety, and the difficult decision was made by the responding CO to kill the bear on site.
This is a very unfortunate situation. For the rest of the summer, it is important to remember to help keep Whistlers bears safe by securing or removing any bear attractants and ensuring that doors and windows on the ground floor are closed.
Report sightings of bears around properties to the COS: 1-877-952-7277 so they can perform non-lethal hazing, deterring bears from properties. The earlier that the COS are aware of potential bear incidents, the better.
