603 bears in B.C. killed by conservation officers in 2023

The slow creep of lodging onto hillsides and into wildlife residence coupled has taken its toll connected B.C.’s carnivore populations, a conservation group says.

In its yearly ranking of Top 10 B.C. cities known to beryllium deadly to bears, nan group Fur Bearers is calling connected group to do a amended occupation of securing garbage that could lure bears into nan crosshairs of Conservation Officers. The group says that successful nan past twelvemonth alone, location were 603 achromatic bears killed successful nan state by conservation officers.

“Many of nan encounters that lead to BCCOS officers sidesplitting achromatic bears see attractant guidance — specified arsenic garbage being near unsecured aliases put curbside inappropriately, consequence from trees being near uncollected, vertebrate feeders and others,” sounds nan merchandise from nan conservation group.

“Urban description and assets improvement besides lead to bears exploring areas they whitethorn different avoid.”

While nan sheer number of bears killed, nan group is besides taking purpose astatine nan authorities agency, saying it has grounded to disclose accusation that could prevention wildlife.

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Fur Bearers says nan B.C. Conservation Officer Service agency wouldn’t merchandise nan location of complete 50 per cent of nan 603 achromatic bears that were killed.

“Following a deadly twelvemonth for achromatic bears successful British Columbia, we expected to spot nan acquainted names of communities wherever issues stay unresolved,” said Lesley Fox, executive head of Fur-Bearers, successful a property release.

“Unfortunately, this twelvemonth nan BC COS only provided 10 communities — and did not show america wherever they killed 356 of nan alarming 603 achromatic bears killed.”

The database provided by nan BCCOS shows:
Prince George – 76
Kamloops – 31
Mackenzie – 28
Smithers – 24
Quesnel – 22
Burns Lake – 17
Vanderhoof – 17
Squamish – 11
Fort St. James – 11
Fraser Lake – 10