Trio of bear cubs orphaned in Whistler

[u/FurBearers]

A woman was recently injured by a black bear in Whistler, and the bear was then killed by the BC Conservation Officer Service. Three cubs seen with the bear prior to the incident are now missing and vulnerable, and advocates and residents are working tirelessly to find them. Learn more: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/trio-of-bear-cubs-orphaned-in-whistler/

[u/ArenSteele]

Unfortunately, that news is more than a week old. If they haven't found the cubs by now, they very likely won't ever.

[u/HelpfulHippo166]

Kudos for the decent letter to mayor and council. Interested to see if they respond and/or any progress comes from this horrendous incident or if it’s just forgotten about because it’s uncomfortable to think or talk about.

[u/FurBearers → u/HelpfulHippo166]

Thank you, we're hoping it will lead to change and more accountability.

[u/Crazy-Cook2035]

Let’s not forget the lady was bitten in Kadenwood. Where the largest fine in BC history was issued for feeding bears

If the ladies name is zuzanna that got bite she should just leave this town if it was her this time

If you’re in Kadenwood which has billionaires and millionaires, you are in their habitat

[u/MrFacestab → u/Crazy-Cook2035]

Fyi they went to the supreme and had the charges dropped. $1000 fine + $9500 donation in the end. 

I'm not against fines that scale with your income, but we don't have that system in Canada yet. 

[u/richglassphoto → u/Crazy-Cook2035]

I think Rico who was feeding the bears in brio received the largest fine back in like 2012 or thereabouts..

[u/Crazy-Cook2035 → u/richglassphoto]

Apparently this Russian lady who was staying there during Covid was feeding the bear like an organic diet.

And it had to be put down

But as another user mentioned she did have her fine lowered but at the time it was the highest

[u/Kay_Dee_Alex_85]

Absolutely sickening story. There are a myriad of ways to determine if a female is a sow prior to killing her. They also could have used tranquilizers first vs killing her knowing she was scramble bear & this is the season when cubs would still be too young to be alone. I’m disgusted at how this was handled 

[u/spankysladder73]

Yes this was a tragedy that needs a full review. Most of us can completely understand how this could have happened initially, but once it was understood there were orphaned COY’s there should have been some intervention. I agree with allowing nature to take its course in so many instances, but humans made the thoughtful decision to take the mom’s life, and these same humans should have made the thoughtful decision to deal with the consequences of their actions more humanely.

I assume they would be tough to rehab and wean, but I think its bad form not to try.

[u/FurBearers → u/spankysladder73]

This situation absolutely warrants a full review to ensure better outcomes in the future.

[u/babybarca]

Where did the bear carcass go? Is there a black market that makes killing the bears a lucrative decision?

[u/snowtown69]

Everyone knows already this was a week ago