This cub was one of two removed from a residential area of La Ronge. (Submitted photo/April Chiefcalf)

By Derek Cornet

conservation

Bear exhibiting no fear of humans euthanized at Eagle Point

Jul 6, 2021 | 1:42 PM

The weekend proved busy for conservation officers as they had to deal with eight nuisance bears in the La Ronge area.

That’s according to an email sent to larongeNOW by the Ministry of Environment. In all, six bears – including a young sow and two cubs – were successfully trapped and relocated, while two bears were euthanized because they were a threat to public safety.

Officers determined one bear at Eagle Point had become habituated and lost its natural fear of humans.

“As bear behaviour is unpredictable, habituated bears can become dangerous and, unfortunately, they often have to be euthanized, which is what occurred in this case,” the email noted. “This was not the outcome that anyone wanted but was necessary to protect public safety. This bear appeared to have no fear around humans in and around the golf course and the residential area of Eagle Point.”

The email explained habituated bears can’t be relocated as they will continue to associate humans with potential food sources such as garbage. Relocation would have simply moved the problem elsewhere.

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Most of the calls officers deal with have been associated with garbage, barbecues, pet food and bird feeders. The best way to avoid bear issues is to eliminate attractants or store them in a way that makes them unavailable to bears searching for an easy meal.

Bear traps are a common method of relocating bears in northern Saskatchewan. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“On a positive note, there has been minimal bear activity in the provincial campgrounds as park staff do an excellent job managing garbage, which is a key bear attractant,” the email added. “Bear-proof garbage receptacles are used effectively in parks and should be considered in resorts and communities where bears are common.”

The sow and two cubs were trapped in a residential area of La Ronge and officers used a trap to catch them. The mother bear was caught first, which lured her cubs to the trap.

In this case, officers determined the bears were likely not fully habituated to human food sources and could be relocated with a reasonable chance that they wouldn’t return.

“Every situation is different, and public safety is always the most important consideration when conservation officers are deciding on the appropriate course of action,” the email states. “Depending on the situation, conservation officers may employ a variety of methods, including hazing with noise makers, bear bangers or rubber slugs and, if possible, relocation.”

To report an encounter with an aggressive bear or if public safety is at risk, call the Turn in Poachers and Polluters line at 1-800-667-7561 or from your SaskTel cellphone at #5555. To report concerns about nuisance bear, contact the ministry’s Inquiry Centre at 1-800-567-4224 or centre.inquiry@gov.sk.ca.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno