BC conservation service still assessing fate of rescued bear cubs
Posted July 8, 2015 12:18 pm.
Last Updated July 8, 2015 12:31 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
PORT HARDY (NEWS 1130) – The fate of the two bear cubs spared by a conservation officer on northern Vancouver Island remains unclear.
BC Conservation Officer Service Insp. Chris Doyle says the cubs show signs of being habituated to humans and that animals that come into conflict with people are usually destroyed.
Conservation officer Bryce Casavant was suspended after he reportedly refused an order to euthanize the eight-week-old cubs last weekend.
The bears were orphaned when their mother was killed for breaking into a meat freezer inside a mobile home in Port Hardy.
The cubs — who have been named Athena and Jordan — are being held at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association.
The association’s Robin Campbell says the officer made the right decision not to kill the cubs because they only came back to the property looking for their mother, are healthy and remain afraid of people — like normal bears.
Below is a statement from the Ministry of Environment.
“This is a very sad and unfortunate situation with the mother bear and her cubs near Port Hardy. Although Conservation Officers must sometimes put down wild animals for the safety of the public and the welfare of the animal, we understand how difficult it is for all involved. Our Conservation Officers provide the highest level of public safety and natural resource law enforcement service possible. These very difficult decisions for animal relocation suitability are made by professionals including senior wildlife biologists and the provincial wildlife veterinarian, along with conservation officers. The Conservation Officer Service is investigating this situation, including the actions of its members. We will share more information about the status and welfare of the cubs as it becomes available.”
