The former community co-ordinator of Wildsafe B.C. in Nelson is urging for reforms following what she describes as “numerous shortcomings … across various levels” that resulted in the death of a grizzly mother and two of her three cubs this month. Lisa Thomson expressed her deep sadness over the incident and disclosed her resignation from the position in response to the killings.
The four bears, who had been moving through the Nelson region, drew attention. The mother bear was euthanized after being relocated but returning to the West Kootenay community. One of the cubs was put down by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) due to being unsuitable for relocation based on its age and health. A second cub met the same fate after returning near Christina Lake and foraging on garbage.
Andrew Milne, deputy chief of the BCCOS, explained that the decision to euthanize the bears was made because they were habituated to human presence, showed no fear towards people, and were accessing unnatural food sources.
Thomson acknowledged the regulations and procedures governing wildlife management decisions but expressed her disagreement with them in this particular case. She highlighted the bears’ repeated return to the area due to the availability of feral fruit trees, emphasizing that the issue cannot be solely addressed by relocating the animals.
She proposed a collaborative approach involving residents, local authorities, and businesses to implement bear-smart practices in communities, citing examples from Alberta’s Canmore and Banff where centralized, wildlife-resistant trash bins have replaced individual bins, and restrictions on planting fruit-bearing trees are enforced.
Thomson emphasized the importance of residents taking responsibility for reducing wildlife attractants and preventing animals from becoming accustomed to human habitats. She stressed the need for establishing boundaries and deterring bears from urban areas to promote coexistence without jeopardizing public safety.
Additionally, Thomson clarified that Wildsafe B.C. operates independently from the BCCOS, functioning as an educational non-profit organization funded partly by the government and municipalities. The fourth cub of the grizzly sow was successfully relocated and is under monitoring after briefly appearing in Christina Lake.
The ongoing incidents have prompted calls for systemic changes to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and enhance conservation efforts in the region.
