A wounded bear dragging its hind legs was put out of its misery on the North Shore by RCMP Saturday afternoon.
“It looks like somebody shot it with a crossbow. The conservation officer had been looking for the bear and then it was located near Ridgewood Road,” Staff Sgt. Leanne Tuchscherer told the Star.
“We heard reports that it was dragging its two hind legs. It had been shot the night previous by a crossbow.”
Tuchscherer said a member of the RCMP then shot the bear. Any further investigation will be done by the conservation officer.
North Shore resident Ron Welwood called this incident a “senseless killing”. He reported being outside when he heard three gun shots, followed by four more a short while later.
“I saw a very large light brown black bear sauntering through my backyard about two days prior to the incident and my first reaction was that I hoped it was not the victim of those shots I heard.”
He said the incident is alarming.
“Being so close to the Ridgewood Road neighbourhood, I would think that the shooting of any type of firearm, gun or crossbow could be a dangerous hazard.”
He routinely sees wildlife in his area, including coyotes, raccoons, skunks, turkeys and elk.
“Unfortunately too many people leave out attractants for wildlife,” said Welwood. “Culling of dangerous animals is one thing, but killing without consulting authorities is senseless.”
