Two individuals from Texada Island have been found guilty for not reporting the shooting of a grizzly bear in July 2025, as confirmed by conservation officers. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) announced via social media that Kody Bevan and Seneca Antony have each been fined $3,000 following charges brought against them in September. The incident, which occurred in July, stirred controversy within the Texada Island community as residents were divided over the fate of the bear, which had been relocated multiple times previously.
The local First Nations had devised a plan to move the bear to a new location, but before this could be executed, the grizzly was fatally shot. Bevan and Antony admitted to the offense of not promptly reporting the incident and were sentenced accordingly by COS. A portion of the fines, totaling $4,000, will be contributed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation. The identities of the individuals responsible for the bear’s death remain undisclosed.
Texada Island, situated approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Vancouver and home to around 1,000 inhabitants, was unaccustomed to hosting such large predators. The grizzly, known as “Tex” among locals, had a history of being relocated after being spotted near populated areas in Gibsons and Sechelt. Despite efforts to relocate it, the bear eventually found its way back to Texada Island, where it met its demise.
Before being shot, the bear had displayed aggressive behavior, including stalking residents and livestock on multiple occasions. Its killing led to grief among the local First Nations, particularly after the revelation of the relocation plan. Officials mentioned that misinformation on social media exacerbated the situation, emphasizing that the initial plan was to transfer the bear to a remote area where it could coexist with other grizzlies without returning to inhabited regions.