Latest news with #B.C.ConservationOfficerService
Global News
06-08-2025
- Global News
Nearly $30K in fines issued over illegal campfires on B.C. Day long weekend
Despite British Columbia's wildfire season flaring up in earnest over the BC Day long weekend, dozens of people still took it upon themselves to flout campfire bans. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it handed out nearly $30,000 in fines during the holiday, most of them for illegal fires. That sum came in the form of 26 tickets, at $1,150 a pop. 1:00 More than 200 firefighters battle 500-hectare Wesley Lake wildfire More than half of the tickets were in the Sea-to-Sky region, where officers issued a total of $18,000 in fines. In some cases, more than one person was fined at the same campfire. Story continues below advertisement Officers handed out two tickets for illegal campfires on Vancouver Island, and another two to people who had entered a restricted area related to the rapidly growing Wesley Ridge wildfire near Cameron Lake. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Campfires are currently banned in virtually all of the Coastal Fire Centre, including the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, where persistent drought has left the landscape extremely dry and the fire danger rating at high or extreme. Campfires remain permitted in the rest of B.C.; however, open fires exceeding three metres in width are not permitted.
Winnipeg Free Press
16-07-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
B.C. First Nation says plan to move Tex the grizzly was underway before it was killed
TEXADA ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA – A First Nation on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast says it is 'deeply saddened' by the shooting death of a grizzly bear on Texada Island this week. The Tla'amin First Nation says in a statement that it was working on a co-ordinated relocation effort for the bear with two other area nations before the bear, nicknamed Tex, was 'illegally shot, maimed and killed.' It says it held a ceremony on Tuesday to honour the spirit of Tex after taking custody of his remains. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it received a report from the RCMP on Tuesday that someone had shot and wounded the bear and it later reported finding the bear dead. The service said last month that the bear was not a good candidate for relocation because it had already been moved from other Sunshine Coast communities and had stalked people and harassed livestock. The nation's statement says their relocation plan had already been approved by conservation officials and it involved setting traps to safely move Tex to a remote area at the head of Bute Inlet, on the mainland about 100 kilometres northeast of Texada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2025.
Vancouver Sun
16-07-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Texada Island grizzly found dead, days before province planned to relocate it
The grizzly bear that's been wandering Texada Island for more than a month has been found dead after being shot, just days after the province started a plan with First Nations to relocate the large carnivore. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service confirmed the bear is the tagged grizzly seen on the island in recent weeks. The animal was found in the Van Anda area on the north end of the island, and is expected to undergo a necropsy. The province said Tuesday it had been working on a plan to capture and move the grizzly from Texada to a remote area up the coast, far away from communities. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I'm saddened … this isn't how we wanted this to end,' said Randene Neill, B.C.'s minister of water, land and resource management, in a statement. Neill said the relocation plan was to be done in partnership with First Nations, which had requested the approach. The four-year-old bear was first spotted on Texada on May 25 after swimming over from the Powell River area. The grizzly had been reported as following some residents and stalking livestock since its arrival on the 300-square-kilometre island, home to about 1,200 people, but there had been no reports of any injuries. Conservation officers arrived on Texada on Monday in response to a report by the RCMP that the grizzly had been 'shot and possibly wounded' by a member of the public. The province had previously said the grizzly was not a candidate for relocation after two previous attempts failed. However, Neill said those plans changed. 'We were working with First Nations partners to confirm the bear's exact location and movements, in preparation for placing a trap,' she said. The plan included wildlife experts from the ministry, First Nations Guardians and other sources to locate the bear. The bear was spotted on July 10, said Neill, but before its movements could be confirmed to place the trap, organizers learned the bear was dead. The minister said the province will investigate to determine what happened. Once the necropsy is complete, it will work with the Tla'amin First Nation and shíshálh Nation to ensure the bear's remains are returned to them for ceremonial purposes, said Neill. The grizzly was tagged and moved from Gibsons last fall, and was moved again from Sechelt. It then showed up in Powell River, where it was getting into boats and stalking a couple on a picnic, who had to retreat to the water and remain there while the grizzly paced on shore for half an hour. Three First Nations had asked the province for permission to move the grizzly into their territories. John Powell, elected chief of Mamalilikulla First Nation, called the situation a 'ticking time bomb' last month, saying it was inevitable the bear was going to run into a human or animal and 'have a negative engagement.' Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to report it to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277. dkloster@
Global News
14-06-2025
- Global News
Black bear killed after attacking woman in Maple Ridge backyard
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it had to kill a black bear after the sow seriously injured a woman in her Maple Ridge backyard. The attack happened Thursday night at a home near 222 Street and Abernathy Way. Conservation officers say the bear swiped the woman on the side of the face, leaving her with serious facial lacerations. 0:25 Woman attacked by black bear in Anmore The woman was treated in hospital and is recovering. Story continues below advertisement Conservation officers are now trying to locate the bear's two cubs. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Anyone who sees the orphaned animals is asked to call the B.C. Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277
Global News
11-06-2025
- General
- Global News
Lone Texada Island grizzly bear seen chasing livestock
Conservation officers were called to Texada Island on Tuesday after reports of a grizzly bear chasing livestock. The lone grizzly bear recently swam to the island from Powell River last month. Its presence has been dividing the community, with some residents wanting to save the bear and relocate it, while the B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the bear, which has been previously tagged, has become a hazard. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Officers were called to the island after the bear was seen chasing livestock in the Crescent Bay Road area and will determine any next steps, if warranted. The province says the bear has already been relocated twice last year. Recently, the Mamalilikulla band said it is offering to welcome the bear to its territory in a remote spot on Knight Inlet. Story continues below advertisement The fate of the bear remains unknown at this time.
