Conservation Officers are looking for the two grizzly bears reported in Kimberley on Monday evening, says CO Joe Carravetta. Carravetta also confirms that the bears were spotted again on Tuesday evening in the area of 106th and 108th in Chapman Camp.
“We know they first showed up on Monday night in a fruit tree,” Carravetta said. “The owner picked the fruit and picked up the branches so the bears moved on. They moved to the 106th and 108th on the edge of town. They were spotted moving through on Tuesday night.”
Carravetta says there are no reports that they got into any trouble, however there were FaceBook posts on Wednesday morning indicating the grizzlies were in people’s yards.
The plan right now, Carravetta says, is to keep an eye on them and protect public safety.
“We are not sure if they will continue to stick around. We want them to move out. If they don’t, we may use rubber bullets, or trap them and relocate them.”
Carravetta says that the top priority has to be public safety, but that putting grizzly bears down is usually a last resort.
“It depends on the situation. Certainly with grizzly bears you don’t want to have to do that. But sometimes, say it’s a bear at the end of its life cycle, his teeth are worn, he’s skinny. He likely wouldn’t survive relocation. We look at each situation, consult with the wildlife biologist. We try to relocate grizzlies as much as possible, but there are situations where the best thing to do is euthanize them.”
As for these particular bears, the best thing the public can do is manage attractants so they move on.
“Pick all your fruit, secure your garbage. If we can remove attractants, it might encourage them to move on. And if you see them, please call the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.”
Carravetta says there is no way to determine whether these are the same bears that have been seen hanging around higher elevations all summer.
“We can’t say they are the same bears. It could be two different ones. Our grizzly population in this area is pretty healthy.”