Conservation officers forced to euthanize young Kelowna bear

B.C. conservation officers tranquillized and then euthanized a young bear in Kelowna on Tuesday afternoon after it kept visiting properties with garbage outside.

It’s that time of year when bears are out of hibernation and wandering around again, which  can lead to an unfortunate outcome.

Conservation officers were in Kelowna’s lower mission neighbourhood Tuesday tracking a bear that was only a year-and-a-half old, after they determined it had been returning to area homes.  They found it, tranquillized it and then it was euthanized.

It was a stark reminder to residents of what can happen if they leave garbage outside their homes.

“When people are still keeping their garbage out, bears suffer the consequences of it,” said conservation officer Hailey Gooliaff.

More bears are being sighted visiting properties throughout the Okanagan recently. According to conservation officers, this can not only lead to dangerous outcomes for homeowners but the cubs themselves.

“Once a bear becomes food conditioned to unnatural food sources such as garbage they will continuously seek out garbage,” Gooliaff said.

“Even if we tried to relocate them, if it’s unsuccessful they will find the closest community that has garbage available. So unfortunately in these situations, the bears need to be euthanized.”

When bears come out of hibernation they are looking for something to eat, which is why safety officers are reminding the public to put their garbage in bear-resistant bins and avoid having attractants near their homes.