A black bear died last week in the Roberts Creek area after a suspected vehicle strike.
Locally based BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) representative Dean Miller was not on the Coast when the Aug. 10 incident occurred but in an email to Coast Reporter, he noted that from the details he was provided it did "sound like a [motor vehicle accident], which is all too common with conflict bears that are travelling in and out of our communities." In the previous two weeks, Miller stated three other bears suffered similar life-ending interactions on roadways north of Pender Harbour.
Coastal Wildlife Rescue (CWR) spokesperson Tammy Trefry told Coast Reporter this was the fifth vehicle-caused bear death reported to the group in 2023, which is the highest number in a single year that Trefry is aware of. Previous reports of that nature this year involved two cubs and animals estimated to be yearling and a three-year-old.
"Bears who are habituated to our communities are more vulnerable to motor vehicles, and poisonings, as (household) garbage items that can be toxic," Miller told Coast Reporter. "The Conservation Officer Service has promoted co-existing with bears where people should expect bears to transit through their properties at times.
“Co-existing does not mean that we should promote bears to feel at home in our neighborhoods as these types of risks are prevalent," Miller wrote.
It is BCCOS practice for deceased bears to be returned to the forest as carrion for other wildlife, Miller wrote in his email.
