A black bear was euthanized in Golden a little over a week after conservation officers originally set up a trap in the Alexander Park neighbourhood. The trap was set up on May 15 after numerous incidents in the area.
“Between May 12 and 13 we had about a half-dozen reports of bears successfully getting into people’s garbage, all in the same general neighbourhood,” said Conservation Officer Dan Bartol.
“Normally when a bear gets that many food rewards, he becomes a persistent problem.”
The trap was taken down on May 21 after sightings of the problematic bear dissipated.
On May 23, however, Bartol received a report of a bear near the same neighbourhood that matched the original bear’s description.
Bartol responded to a report on Monday morning of a roaming bear in a different neighbourhood. After arriving on the scene, he approached the bear and the bear didn’t exhibit any fear and didn’t back away from Bartol. With the animal clearly showing signs of habituation, Bartol took the decision to subdue and euthanize the bear. It is believed that this was the same bear from Alexander Park.
Despite the early start to the spring, bear issues have been kept to a minimum so far this year.
A warning has been posted regarding bear sightings at Keith King Memorial Park, but Bartol doesn’t believe that animal is a conditioned bear as residents on Selkirk Hill have typically done a good job of securing attractants.
While COs haven’t had to issue any violation tickets so far this spring, Bartol is still seeing too many instances where residents have failed to avoid rewarding bears with food.
“There is a very high level of non-compliance with the municipal bylaw and provincial regulation that you have to secure your garbage,” Bartol said.
Anyone spotting non-compliance amongst their neighbours is encouraged to contact Conservation Officers at 1-877-952-7277.
“We have to work together. Nobody wants to see these bears being destroyed…but I think there is quite a level of complacency,” Bartol said.
