It's been a deadly week for bears in the Sea to Sky Corridor, with six animals dead or destroyed since last Tuesday (Aug. 14) in a series of incidents, one of which saw a bear break into a house twice on the weekend.
The first occurred Tuesday (Aug. 14) when a yearling bear was destroyed by Conservation Officers after being struck by a vehicle on Hwy. 99 near the Pemberton motocross track. Another collared bear known to local bear researchers as "Komor," had to be destroyed Thursday (Aug. 16) after being struck by a vehicle at Mons Crossing.
On Friday (Aug. 17), another young bear was struck by a vehicle on Hwy. 99 near a motocross track. It died as a result of its injuries before COs arrived on the scene.
Then, this weekend, COs destroyed a conflict bear after it entered a home on Alta Lake Road in Whistler - twice. This bear was known to local research teams as "Blue" and was more than 15 years old, according to the Get Bear Smart Society.
According to CO Dean Miller, who attended the incident, the bear entered the home through the garage on Saturday (Aug. 18) while construction workers were working in the house, and also entered a vehicle on the property.
"With all the noise going on, it was surprising that the bear entered the house," said Miller.
COs and the RCMP chased the bear away with rubber bullets, but it returned Sunday (Aug. 19) and again entered the house through the garage. This time, COs destroyed the bear.
"We do give them a few chances, but I just made a judgment call," Miller said.
Another bear was reported killed in Pemberton after another highway accident Monday (Aug. 20), and yet another bear was reported destroyed Tuesday night (Aug. 21) after breaking into a home in the Nordic area.
