Crowd taking photos gets too close to wild bear in mall parking lot: conservation officer
Posted July 23, 2019 11:03 pm.
Last Updated July 23, 2019 11:27 pm.
COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) — Conservation officers are left puzzled after a crowd of around 60 people came close to a black bear that had wandered near the Coquitlam Center Mall parking lot Monday night.
Sgt. Todd Hunter says people were trying to get photos, video, or just trying to catch a better look.
“Not a good idea. Back off. Let the officers do their thing. Best take pictures of wildlife in their natural environment, not in the mall parking lot,” he says.
RELATED: Black bear euthanized after knocking man down near Coquitlam River
Hunter says social media made things difficult.
“Not good behaviour on people’s part. I understand that people want to see it, tweet it, text it, whatever, but this is a wild animal,” he says.
The young bear was tranquilized and eventually euthanized.
Another bear was destroyed recently, after knocking a man down near the Coquitlam river last week.
