Bear shot in Selkirk
Friday, September 25, 2009 (18:08:54)

Posted by WpgJim

Discovered animal destroyed after public safety deemed at risk

By Mark T. Buss

A 300-pound male black bear was shot and killed within Selkirk city limits early Wednesday morning as the public’s safety was deemed at risk.

Selkirk RCMP Const. David Obirek said the time of day, the proximity to area schools and the options available to officials forced the hand of Conservation officers to kill the animal and dispose of the carcass.

“It is unfortunate but in a heavily populated area like this the only option was to destroy the bear,” Obirek said.

At 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, Mounties and Conservation officers converged on the 400-block of Sinclair Avenue following a report of a bear sighting.

Wilf Huebsch at 401 Sinclair said he received a call from a family member letting him know of the situation. He said he went to his back door to look in the yard only to see the bear sleeping approximately 50 feet away.

Huebsch noted the wild animal had no fear of him – not a good sign in a residential area, he said.

“I opened the door and there he was,” Huebsch said. “He wasn't acared of me at all. He looked at me and put his head back down.”

He said it wasn’t long after Conservation officials showed up and made the decision to kill the animal.

Huebsch – himself a retired RCMP officer and former St. Andrews emergency co-ordinator – said authorities made the right decision. He said if they tried to tranquilize the animal, the bear could have bolted and caused untold damage.

“We’re half a block from the elementary school, we’re a block from the high school, people are walking to work ... you don’t know what would have happened if he started to run,” Huebsch said. “The response was quick and I have no complaints.”

The incident involving the bear actually began 10 hours earlier. Officials attended reports of a bear milling about in the 400-block of Nelson Avenue around 11 p.m. Tuesday night. The animal was reported to have crossed back and forth across the roadway from yard to yard.

Obirek said once on the scene, officials chased the animal south. Watching it jump fences and plow through backyards, authorities lost sight of the animal behind the Sunova Credit Union on Main Street. They continued the search but to no avail.

Obirek said discussions with Huebsch’s neighbours after the animal was put down led them to believe the three or four-year old large bear was rooting through garbage and gardens in the area as well as feasting on fruit trees through the night.

The animal's carcass was taken to a landfill for dispossal.

Wednesday’s incident raises the fall bear report count to over 60 with one month to go. Last year, 41 reports were forwarded overall.

Some area residents believe bears have become more brazen as they continue to forage for food following a poor summer for berries and other items.

Conservation officials say homeowners have a role to play in limiting bear sightings by managing their properties so bears aren’t attracted to them. Garbage and food should be secured in a manner that doesn’t allow odours to escape and attractants like compost piles and beehives should be covered.

Bird feeders and garbage are reportedly responsible for 70 per cent of calls.

Source: http://www.selkirkjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1763794