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Conservation officers in B.C. are investigating after a large adult black bear was found dead along a residential road on the Sunshine Coast.<\/p>\n
The bear was found lying on Mills Road near Jasper Road in Sechelt on April 9.<\/p>\n
Sunshine Coast resident Shaunna-Rae Williams said she saw the bear around 6:40 a.m. and did not see any blood near the animal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI grew up on the coast, and we were always taught to respect the bears,\u201d Williams said. \u201cThey are as much a part of this community as the humans.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u2019s left wondering how the bear died. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt absolutely breaks my heart,\u201d Williams said. <\/p>\n
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One person living on the Sunshine Coast said they’ve grown up believing that bears are as much a part of the community as people. (Sunshine Coast Tourism)<\/p>\n
Ellie Lamb has worked as a bear-viewing guide in B.C. for nearly 30 years. She said the bear was well-known in the community. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis male bear was called \u2018Big Boy\u2019 by the community members and has been known to be a very gentle and very respectful bear to coexist with,\u201d Lamb said.<\/p>\n
She said the bear looked healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a very big healthy bear, considering he just came out of hibernation \u2026 he could be a four- or eight-year-old bear,\u201d Lamb said. <\/p>\n
Lamb hopes the investigation will reveal how the bear died. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnswers are the only way that people can discover a better path forward to coexist with these animals,\u201d Lamb said. <\/p>\n
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said it is aware of the dead black bear in West Sechelt and is investigating.<\/p>\n
“As the investigation is ongoing, no further information can be provided at this time,” said a spokesperson. <\/p>\n
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Where the bear was found dead is less than five kilometres from Sechelt Village. (Alanna Kelly\/CBC)Questions raised over death<\/p>\n
The bear, not having any blood near it, raises questions for Lamb and the community. <\/p>\n
“Dying in the middle of a road is quite unusual,” Lamb said. \u201cDefinitely lying down in that position does pose the question whether or not he was actually suffocating.”<\/p>\n