A sow and her three bear cubs who made Colwood's urban areas their home, have been given their marching orders from the city.
In an attempt to prevent the bears becoming further habituated to living alongside humans, the furry family were moved on Tuesday (Nov. 26) to a wilderness area on southern Vancouver Island by the Conservation Officer Service (COS).
Reports of the bears "lingering" in an area near Veterans Memorial Parkway prompted the operation, which was done in consultation with provincial wildlife biologists, said COS in an emailed statement.
"The sow and three cubs have not shown any aggressive or conflict behaviour," said the COS spokesperson. "But conservation officers do not want the bears to become comfortable with the presence of people in an urban environment."
This is the second time the bears have been relocated by COS.
In mid-September, the bears were moved from a busy area near Glen Lake to a wilderness spot outside of the city. However, the bears returned within three weeks.
Reports of the bear family in Colwood began appearing on social media in mid-October, with sightings in and around the neighbourhoods of Royal Bay and Triangle Mountain.
The family raised the alarm again, quite literally, in early November when they set off a warning siren in the backyard of a Colwood resident – a candid moment caught on camera.
Residents are being urged by COS to secure attractants around their properties to help prevent human-wildlife conflicts, particularly fruit trees.
"Please ensure fruit is picked from trees and the ground," said COS.
For more tips on keeping wildlife wild, visit https://wildsafebc.com.
Bear conflicts can be reported to the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
