A smart bear that figured out how to open a fridge was killed for its curiosity and for the threat it may have posed to the public.
On Saturday, Coquitlam RCMP and conservation officers were called to Muirfield Place on Westwood Plateau, where a bear walked through a homes open door and made for the fridge.
In news reports, the bear entered the home just after noon while the owner was sleeping on the couch.
The homeowner heard the noise and and startled the bear, which ran off, according to CKNW.
The bear had left the area by the time conservation officers and Mounties arrived but police later spotted the bruin and received permission to shoot it.
“A bear that gets into a house and gets a reward can be a public safety issue and must be destroyed,” a spokesperson from the Ministry of Environment said in an email. “The bear somehow knew how to open a fridge door to get access to food, so most likely has done it before.”
Lethal force is always a last resort, the spokesperson said, but the bear had a history of conflict in the area.
A spokesperson for the Coquitlam RCMP confirmed that the bear was a "huge concern," and killing the bruin was a "last resort."
"It was not a suitable candidate for relocation," Cpl. Mike McLaughlin said, noting that the bear was habituated and clever enough to know how to get into a fridge — thus likely to return to the area.
People are reminded to keep their doors closed and be vigilant about garbage, fruit, bird seed and other attractants that might lure hungry bears to their homes.
Meanwhile, with bear calls on the rise, the Oliver Road entrance to Minnekhada Regional Park in northeast Coquitlam has been closed to vehicles, according to the park website. Pedestrians and cyclists are also encouraged to avoid the area, but if they do encounter a bear, they should stay back at least 100 m. More information can be found at www.metrovancouver.org.
