A resident of Chilliwack, B.C., is under investigation for “hand feeding” a mother bear and two cubs, according to officials. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said, in a social media post, that the person was feeding the three bears in a residential neighbourhood which created a public safety risk. “As a direct result from this individual feeding the family unit of bears, the sow had to be destroyed, and the two cubs were taken to a rehabilitation center so they can be relocated next spring,” the BC COS wrote. “Wildlife fed by humans lose their sense of fear and associate people as a source to get food, as opposed to foraging for their natural nutrients.” Feeding bears is prohibited by B.C.’s Wildlife Act and penalties can include fines of up to $100,000 and jail time. In 2023, a West Vancouver resident was fined $5,000 after being caught on video feeding a black bear in his backyard. In another case, a woman who was feeding a family of bears in Whistler was fined $60,000 but had the amount reduced to $10,500 on appeal. The Chilliwack investigation is ongoing.
