The Conservation Officer Service (COS) killed a bear last week after it had entered a home in Whistler's Blueberry neighbourhood on two separate occasions, according to a municipal wildlife alert issued today.
Shared on behalf of the COS, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) confirmed that conservation officers received and attended calls about the bear accessing a property in the Blueberry area on Friday, Sept. 27.
The bear reportedly entered the home twice, with occupants inside, causing property damage while gaining entry through a window. The occupants hazed the bear away, before it returned.
Conservation officers attended the scene and located the bear near the property. It was deemed a risk to public safety and was ultimately killed.
"Bears are currently in a state of hyperphagia, which means they are very hungry and have a strong desire to eat," the RMOW said in its alert. "They will go to greater lengths to access food and have great learning abilities and memory, which they apply to this task. If they have obtained a food reward, they are likely to return to the same place to try to gain access."
The public is asked to report bear sightings around properties to the COS at 1-877-952-7277, "so they can non-lethal hazing, deterring bears from properties," the alert went on. "The earlier that the COS are aware of potential bear incidents, the better."
