Texada Island’s grizzly bear was a topic for discussion among qathet Regional District directors, one of which had a close encounter with the animal.
At the June 10 regional board meeting, Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick outlined an encounter with the grizzly bear that is currently residing on Texada.
Discussion about the bear arose when Electoral Area C director and board chair Clay Brander said he wanted to speak about correspondence received from Texada resident Trish Boyum, who advocated leaving the bear in peace.
“We’ve received a number of letters regarding the grizzly bear on Texada Island,” said Brander. “I have referred them to the conservation officer and appropriate ministers from the provincial government.”
McCormick said she was concerned that the writer of the letter had taken it upon herself to believe that people on Texada want to see the bear killed.
“In fact, nothing could be further from the truth,” said McCormick. “The people on Texada are out there rooting for the bear.”
McCormick said the conservation service’s mandate is to shoot to kill. She said she knows that because on May 31, the bear paid her a visit.
“I was outside gardening, and it had snuck up very quietly,” said McCormick. “I didn’t hear a thing. My husband yelled at me from the house. I turned around and about 40 feet away, the grizzly bear was right there.
“I ran to the house, which was not the right thing to do, but I have since learned a lot more about being bear aware.”
McCormick said she called the conservation service and was sorry she did because they arrived with firearms, fully loaded. She added that they had a drone to track any movements in the trees.
“I was very concerned,” said McCormick. “I know they are within their mandate to do what they think is best for the animal, however, a lot of people on the island are actually cheering for the animal.”
McCormick said one person in particular is affiliated with a foundation in Switzerland, which has been approached to fund the relocation of this particular bear.
“Everyone is hoping that it happens,” said McCormick. “I just wanted to clarify that because I don’t want people to go around saying that all the Texadans want to kill the bear. It’s not so.”
Brander said he has received multiple letters and all of them were advocating for the safe removal of the bear, or to just leave it alone.
In a post on social media yesterday, the Conservation Officer Service indicated it was responding to a report of a grizzly bear chasing livestock in the Crescent Bay Road area on Texada. Officers are conducting an investigation at the site to determine any next steps, if warranted, according to the post.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said the conservation officer’s mandate is to reduce human/wildlife conflicts, so if the conservation officer comes out, they may or may not have to shoot an animal. He said they prefer not to, but it is part of their jurisdiction.
“They will make the assessment on a case-by-case basis,” said Gisborne. “We have a lot of black bear issues out in Paradise Valley. It really is up to the conservation officer to make those assessments based on the behaviour of the animal.
“The grizzly bear in question had been hanging around south of town and I don’t recall the conservation officers going out there to try and shoot it. Now that the bear has made the incredible journey, swimming across to Texada, I believe they are mainly trying to keep an eye on the situation.”
Boyum, in her correspondence to the regional district, indicated she wanted the bear preserved, but that meanwhile, the people of Texada want the young grizzly that swam to the island to be taken away or killed.
“So today, while four traps have been set on little Texada Island to try to trap this well-behaved, beautiful young grizzly, I’m asking you if you will ask the conservation officers to take the traps away immediately and to leave the bear in peace, while a suitable alternative can be assessed and carried out,” stated Boyum. “The alternative is truly unthinkable.”
Conservation officers continue to ask residents to take precautions to avoid conflicts. Resources and safety tips can be found at wildsafebc.com.
Texada residents are also asked to report all sightings of this grizzly bear to the RAPP (Report all Poachers and Polluters) line at 1.877.952.7277.
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