Local News
B.C. conservation officers investigate after mother black bear killed
British Columbia’s Conservation Officer Service (COS) says it is investigating after a mother black bear was shot and killed northeast of Williams Lake last weekend, leaving behind five bear cubs.
Officers say the bear was shot sometime on May 24 or 25 near Big Lake. On May 26, a passing motorist reported seeing the dead bear and the cubs.
The COS said Friday afternoon that the cubs were in the process of being captured for rehabilitation at the Northern Lights Wildlife Society.
“This is an unfortunate situation,” said Conservation Officer Jeremy Pauls. “It is not every day that you see a black bear successfully rear five cubs at the same time.”
It is illegal to shoot a mother bear with cubs or any black bear younger than two years old, and Pauls says the COS is trying to find those responsible for killing the bear.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
