Latest news with #qathetRegionalDistrict
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
A Group of Rogue Canadians Are Trying to Relocate a Problem Grizzly Against the Government's Wishes
A large male grizzly bear swam to British Columbia's Texada Island last month. The bear's ear tag identifies it as a problem bear, and locals are worried that officials will come and euthanize it. Now concerned residents are attempting to interrupt the bear's impromptu coastal getaway by crowd-sourcing the bear's one-way ticket off the island. The grizzly, which the islanders have nicknamed 'Tex,' showed up near Shehtekwahn Bay on May 25, likely swimming over from the Powell River area, according to a qathet Regional District social media post. Since then, Tex, who sports a yellow ear tag, has been roaming around and randomly making appearances. The bear was even spotted in a backyard on Saturday. While the bear showed no aggression, just having a grizzly on the 116-square-mile island is enough to keep folks on high alert. 'When I first heard about Tex, I didn't panic. I took simple precautions — securing garbage, making sure no pet food was left outside, and adjusting my routines,' Texada resident Katrin Glenn-Bittner wrote on Facebook. 'Living with wildlife is nothing new here in Canada, yet to Texada, who has been mostly predator-free, we need to be proactive now, and in the future.' Rather than wait for wildlife officials to take management action, a few islanders are taking matters into their own hands with a plan full of small-town grit. Glenn-Bittner, along with her partner Kelly Hughes and her brother David Bittner, a biologist and bear researcher from Switzerland, are spearheading a grassroots solution to raise enough funds to get Tex the Bear tranquilized, GPS-collared, and airlifted to a suitable wilderness area. The ambitious plan could cost up to $30,000, according to the organizers, who say the bear has already been relocated twice in the past by officials. 'He hasn't harmed anyone or caused serious trouble,' Glenn-Bittner wrote in her post. 'And he deserves a second chance.' But the province isn't on board. 'This plan is not sanctioned by the COS (Conservation Officer Service) or the province,' the Ministry of Environment and Parks said in a statement. Read Next: Mushroom Hunters Shoot and Kill a Grizzly That Charged Them in Montana According to the Ministry of Environment and Parks, Tex's 'conflict history' means the bear is considered a threat, which puts it on the wrong side of BC's Human Wildlife Conflict Response Guidelines. Those guidelines call for lethal removal for bears that have damaged property, attacked pets or livestock, or show aggressive behavior toward people. For now, Tex remains at large. Locals are being asked to secure their garbage, keep pets close, and report any sightings of the bear.
Global News
27-05-2025
- General
- Global News
Warning issued after lone grizzly bear spotted on Texada Island
Officials are warning the public after a grizzly bear was seen on Texada Island. In a public notice posted Monday, the qathet Regional District said the adult male bear, which has a yellow ear tag, had made its way to the island after spending about a week in the Powell River area. The bear was first spotted in the Pocahontas Bay area over the weekend. 5:14 New bear approach for conservation officers Grizzly bears are known to be excellent swimmers. Last summer, a grizzly sow was spotted with cubs on Vancouver Island after presumably swimming from the mainland. Story continues below advertisement The regional district is urging Texada Island residents to be bear aware, and to take steps to ensure there are no attractants including food or trash on their properties. 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 It added that the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) is monitoring the situation and will respond if necessary. Bear sightings should be reported to the BCCOS Report All Poachers and Polluters line at 1-877-952-7277.
CTV News
27-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Grizzly bear sighting on B.C. Gulf Island prompts warning
A grizzly bear fishes for salmon along the Atnarko River in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park near Bella Coola, B.C. Saturday, Sept 11, 2010. (Jonathan Hayward / THE CANADIAN PRESS) A grizzly bear has made its way from the British Columbia mainland to Texada Island in the Strait of Georgia, prompting a warning to residents and visitors. Officials with the qathet Regional District, which includes the communities of Powell River and Lasqueti and Texada islands, say the adult male grizzly was first spotted in the island's Pocahontas Bay area, southeast of the community of Van Anda. The bear, which has a yellow ear tag, spent about a week in the Powell River area before apparently swimming to the B.C. Gulf Island. 'Texada residents are urged to be bear aware and take steps to prevent the bear from accessing human food,' the regional district said in a public notice Monday. 'This is critical to avoid the bear becoming habituated to local communities.' Residents are urged to report sightings of the bear to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. The bear did not demonstrate any aggression or cause conflict while in the Powell River area, the regional district said.
