Latest news with #BCCOS
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Grizzly bear on Texada Island has history of ‘aggressive behaviour and property damage': BCCOS
In this file photo, a grizzly bear is seen fishing for salmon along the Atnarko river in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park near Bella Coola, B.C. Saturday, Sept 11, 2010. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward) Conservation officers have provided more information about a grizzly bear that swam to a Gulf Island last month – saying its history includes breaking into boats and stalking people. The bear was first spotted on Texada Island on May 27, prompting a warning to residents from the qathet Regional District about the danger of bears becoming habituated to humans. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service provided an update on the grizzly Friday, outlining past incidents and previous attempts at relocation. In September of 2024, the bear was relocated from Gibsons after it was spotted 'roaming around' a local school and downtown streets. It was moved to a 'remote coastal habitat' on Jervis Inlet, according to the BCCOS. Twelve days later, the bear had returned to the more populous urban area of the Sunshine Coast and was spotted in Sechelt. Once again, it was relocated to the 'far end' of Jervis Inlet, the service said. In May of this year the bear spent time in Powell River where several concerning incidents were reported, including the bear breaking into boats at the marina in search of bait. 'The bear displayed aggressive behavior by stalking two residents while walking on a trail,' the BCCOS said, describing another troubling encounter. 'The people escaped by entering and remaining in the water for half an hour while the bear remained on shore circling back and forth. The grizzly bear tore up one of their jackets on shore before leaving.' Since arriving on Texada Island in late May, the bear has 'stalked a resident walking home with her horse and dog for half a kilometer' and was spotted 'chasing livestock.' Conservation officers are not actively trying to trap the bear but they are poised to respond to reports of additional encounters. 'Due to the high level of conflict history that has impacted public safety - including complaints of public encounters, aggressive behaviour and property damage – this bear is not a candidate for relocation,' the update form the service said. 'Bears that no longer fear people are not candidates for relocation or rehabilitation, due to the risk to public safety. These are difficult decisions, but people's safety is always the top priority. Conservation officers will relocate bears if circumstances allow. In this case, it would not be in the interest of public safety to relocate the bear a third time.' According to publicly available statistics, calls to the BCCOS about grizzlies are rare. The service received 31 calls between 2011 and 2024 and four grizzly bears have been killed in that time period– none by conservation officers.
CTV News
13-06-2025
- CTV News
B.C. hunting guide gets $10K fine, 1-year ban for illegal killing of thinhorn sheep
A group of thinhorn sheep - also known as Dall sheep or Stone sheep, depending on the subspecies - are seen in this file photo. ( An assistant hunting guide in northern B.C. has been fined $10,000 and banned from hunting for one year after he authorized a client to shoot a thinhorn sheep that did not meet the legal requirements to be harvested. Nile Sinnes pleaded guilty to killing wildlife not within an open season, a charge that stemmed from a hunt he helped lead in October 2022, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, which posted about the incident on social media Wednesday. A client of Tuchodi River Outfitters, who the BCCOS said paid US$61,347 for the hunt, shot and killed the ram near Horseshoe Mountain, west of Fort Nelson. The BCCOS did not share the client's name in its post. 'Upon compulsory inspection of the ram, it was determined to be seven years of age and not full curl, which does not meet the legal requirements to be harvested,' the post reads. 'Sinnes was responsible for determining if the animal was legal to harvest and authorized the shot to be taken.' Sinnes was recently sentenced in provincial court in Fort Nelson, and the BCCOS post quotes from Judge George Leven's decision. 'In my view, an assistant guide has a very high obligation to ensure that the animal that is being shot by a hunter is completely legal,' the judge said, according to the BCCOS. 'Hunters pay for guided hunts and should expect to have a positive experience in what is often the hunt of a lifetime.' The BCCOS said 'the majority' of Sinnes' fine will go to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. His one-year ban will prohibit him from hunting or accompanying hunters anywhere in the province until May 1, 2026. All of the wildlife parts seized during the investigation were forfeited, the BCCOS said. 'Hunters flock to northern B.C. from all over the world for the unique opportunity and experience of harvesting a Stone or Dall sheep,' said COS Sgt. Anthony Eagles, in the post. 'It remains imperative that all hunters, including guided hunters and their guides, are diligent to ensure a ram is full curl or at least eight years old, per the hunting regulations in BC.'
CTV News
30-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Black bear illegally shot, leaving behind 5 cubs: BCCOS
Orphaned bear cubs are seen in trees near Williams Lake in this image handed out by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. Conservation officers are investigating after a black bear was shot and its body left behind outside Williams Lake, B.C. The sow's killing left five cubs orphaned. It is illegal under the Wildlife Act to shoot a mother bear with cubs, or any black bear under two years old. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says a driver reported seeing a black bear carcass and cubs near the community of Big Lake on May 26, and believes the incident happened one or two days previous. Staff are now in the process of capturing the cubs and bringing them to Northern Lights Wildlife Society for rehabilitation—two out of five have been taken in so far. 'This is an unfortunate situation. It is not every day that you see a black bear successfully rear five cubs at the same time,' said conservation officer Jeremy Pauls said in a statement Friday. 'At this time, the COS is investigating and trying to determine who was involved in the killing of this sow black bear. We are asking for the public's help.' Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call the Report All Poachewrs and Polluters hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
Global News
27-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Warning issued after lone grizzly bear spotted on Texada Island
Officials are warning the public after a grizzly bear was seen on Texada Island. In a public notice posted Monday, the qathet Regional District said the adult male bear, which has a yellow ear tag, had made its way to the island after spending about a week in the Powell River area. The bear was first spotted in the Pocahontas Bay area over the weekend. 5:14 New bear approach for conservation officers Grizzly bears are known to be excellent swimmers. Last summer, a grizzly sow was spotted with cubs on Vancouver Island after presumably swimming from the mainland. Story continues below advertisement The regional district is urging Texada Island residents to be bear aware, and to take steps to ensure there are no attractants including food or trash on their properties. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy It added that the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) is monitoring the situation and will respond if necessary. Bear sightings should be reported to the BCCOS Report All Poachers and Polluters line at 1-877-952-7277.
Global News
03-05-2025
- Global News
Search underway for 3 orphaned cubs after bear killed in Whistler for biting woman
Wildlife officials are desperately working to locate a trio of orphaned bear cubs in Whistler, after their mother was put down for attacking a dog walker earlier this week. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said the mother bear was killed after it knocked a woman down and bit her in the Kadenwood neighbourhood on Monday evening. On Tuesday, the BCCOS received reports from the same area about the cubs, which they now believe belonged to the sow. Conservation officers searched the area but couldn't find the youngsters. 0:47 Woman walking dog attacked by black bear in Whistler neighbourhood That has bear advocate Ellie Lamb concerned, given the animals are likely still unable to feed themselves. Story continues below advertisement 'Their health is waning because they are on mother's milk, they haven't eaten anything solid … they may chew on some grass a little bit, but nothing that's going to get them by,' she said. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'It's very serious about getting them picked up. Five days would be pushing it, if they could survive.' Along with starvation concerns, Lamb said there are a variety of predators in the area, including cougars and coyotes. Conservation Officer Darragh Carroll said officers have been in the area looking for the cubs since they were reported. 2:04 Rewilded bear cubs being tracked in new project 'We've had a number of officers out on the ground, including conservation officers and our new wildlife safety response officer we have stationed in Whistler… we've also set out a live trap in the area,' he said. Story continues below advertisement 'We are still working on it, we're going to do everything we can.' If officers can locate the cubs, they will be captured and assessed as candidates for rehabilitation. The BCCOS is also asking the public to keep their eye out for the cubs and to call 1-877-952-7277 if they see them. People are also being reminded to keep their distance and not to interfere with the animals.
