Bear advocates raise concerns after documents show 77 cubs killed in B.C. last year

Advocates are calling for third-party oversight of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, which they say should be focusing on public safety.

Wildlife advocates are calling for more oversight of the B.C. Conservation Officer Society after unearthing data showing officers killed 77 bear cubs across the province for various reasons last year.

The information was released to a B.C. resident who shared it with the animal rights group the Fur-Bearers, prompting the it to lodge a formal complaint with the ministry of environment.

Ellie Lamb, a North Vancouver bear guide and advocate, has poured over the documents and believes they’re filled with examples of situations where cubs could have been rehabilitated, rather than killed.

She pointed to one case detailed in the documents near Terrace where officers shot a young cub found abandoned on the side of the road.

“They should be considering most importantly the public safety … there is nothing unsafe about a four-pound cub looking for help,” she said.

“Members that we as the public support killed this cub when it was likely reaching out to get a hand, and could have been taken to (the) Critter Care or to Northern Lights (rescue centres) for rehabilitation, instead he shot it on the side of the road.”

B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman said that conservation officers makes a priority of trying to relocate bears when possible.

“But when animals are habituated to human sources of food, whether it is as an adult or a cub, then there is a risk to human communities. conservation officers have to make these decisions on the ground,” he said.