The former community co-ordinator of Wildsafe B.C. Nelson is advocating for change following what she describes as “various shortcomings … across different aspects” that resulted in the death of a grizzly sow and two of her three cubs this month.
Expressing her deep sorrow, Lisa Thomson, in an interview with CBC’s Radio West, disclosed her decision to step down from her position in response to the unfortunate incidents.
The four bears had drawn attention as they roamed in the Nelson vicinity. Despite being relocated, the mother bear was ultimately killed after returning to the West Kootenay community.
Lisa Thomson, the community coordinator for WildSafe BC in Nelson, expresses sadness over the recent loss of three grizzly bears in the West Kootenay.
As reported by the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS), one of the cubs was euthanized due to unsuitability for relocation stemming from its age and health condition. Another cub met the same fate this week after being relocated but returning to Christina Lake and consuming refuse.
Andrew Milne, BCCOS’s deputy chief, explained, “The bear was habituated to human presence, displayed no fear towards people, and unfortunately, it resorted to non-natural food sources.”
“Due to these circumstances, the bear persisted in the area, necessitating a regrettable intervention by officers to euthanize the animal.”
Thomson acknowledged her comprehension of the regulations and procedures guiding wildlife management decisions but expressed her inability to reconcile with them in this instance.
She highlighted the extended presence of the bears in and around Nelson, repeatedly drawn back by the presence of untamed fruit trees.