The grizzly roaming Texada Island has been identified as the same bear relocated from both and last year.
The Conservation Officer Service (COS) says “due to the high level of conflict history that has impacted public safety — including complaints of public encounters, aggressive behaviour and property damage – this bear is not a candidate for relocation.”
But, according to a joint statement from Randene Neill, MLA for Powell River – Sunshine Coast and Minister of Environment Tamara Davidson, there is a “no kill” order for the bear.”
“However, it is also our responsibility to keep people safe and if further behavior by the grizzly bear occurs that threatens public safety, Conservation Officers will respond to those situations. These are difficult decisions, but again, people’s safety is always the top priority. It is our hope that it will not come to this, and the bear will move on independently. While we continue to collaborate closely with our partners, including First Nations and the Grizzly Bear Foundation, the final decision regarding wildlife management is made in accordance with provincial policies to ensure public safety.”
The COS gave a detailed history of the bear on the Sunshine Coast, starting with its first sighting in Gibsons, last September.
The COS with support from provincial wildlife biologists and shíshálh Nation relocated this grizzly bear twice in 2024 – Sept. 5 from Gibsons and Sept. 27 from Sechelt – to remote coastal habitat as part of extensive efforts to avoid conflict with people. As part of that process a unique ear tag was placed on the bear for future identification purposes.
The COS responded were called in after it was confirmed the bear was roaming around a local school (Elphinstone Secondary School in Gibsons) and downtown in the daytime. The COS determined the grizzly had no conflict history and was deemed healthy, but potentially could have become a public safety risk.
- The first relocation on Sept. 5, moved the bear from Gibsons to Vancouver Bay in Jervis inlet. The second relocation Sept. 27, moved the bear from Sechelt to the far end of Jervis Inlet. On both occasions, the grizzly bear returned to urban areas along the Sunshine Coast within weeks.
- Recently, the bear spent several days in Powell River, breaking into fishing boats at marinas to access bait. Additional conflicts include: May 22, 2025, in Powell River, the bear displayed aggressive behavior by stalking two residents while walking on a trail. The people escaped by entering and remaining in the water for half an hour while the bear remained on shore circling back and forth. The grizzly bear tore up one of their jackets on shore before leaving.
- On May 28, 2025, on Texada Island, the grizzly bear stalked a resident walking home with her horse and dog for half a kilometer. Then multiple sightings of the grizzly bear, including near a school, store and farms, were also reported on the Island.
- Traps were set after these incidents but were pulled several days later as the grizzly bear had moved locations and the COS did not want to inadvertently capture an unrelated bear.
- On June 10 and 11 on Texada Island, conservation officers responded to a complaint of a grizzly bear chasing livestock. The COS investigation determined no livestock were attacked and conflict prevention advice was provided to residents.
- Currently, CO’s do not have traps set and are not actively pursuing this grizzly bear. However, should further behavior by the grizzly bear occur that threatens public safety, CO’s will respond to those situations. Due to the high level of conflict history that has impacted public safety - including complaints of public encounters, aggressive behaviour and property damage – this bear is not a candidate for relocation.
“The issue of human-wildlife conflict is complex,” COS wrote. “Bears that no longer fear people are not candidates for relocation or rehabilitation, due to the risk to public safety. These are difficult decisions, but people’s safety is always the top priority. Conservation officers will relocate bears if circumstances allow. In this case, it would not be in the interest of public safety to relocate the bear a third time.
COS notes, provincial policy on translocating wildlife specifically exempts dangerous wildlife that are captured because they have caused or may cause a threat to the health and safety of humans, harassment or harm of domestic animals, or damage to property. Adult bears will not be moved outside their natural home ranges, and bears will only be relocated short distances where there is no or very limited indication of food conditioning and no indication of aggressiveness.
“Animals considered to be dangerous to the public will not be relocated.”
The statement from Neill and Davidson continues, “While the Province will relocate bears if circumstances allow, in this case, it would not be in the interest of public safety to relocate the bear a third time. Bears that are aggressive towards people, considered dangerous to the public, or are human-food conditioned are not candidates for relocation, due to the risk to public safety. Sightings of this grizzly bear should be reported to the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
“We understand that people in 小蓝视频 care for the welfare of our wild animals – that is part of what makes our province such a great place to live. 小蓝视频 is one of the last places in North America where grizzly bears still live across most of their historic range, and we are fortunate to have them. We are doing our very best to ensure grizzly bears continue to endure and thrive in our province.
“We all have a role to play in keeping bears safe, especially in rural and remote communities. The Province is taking extensive action to minimize the risks that conflicts with wildlife pose to public safety and property, including through enforcement efforts, community outreach, attending municipal meetings, and promoting WildSafe programs and Bear Smart communities. These initiatives help educate the public on attractant management, which can help prevent human-wildlife conflicts and the death of bears.
“Residents are asked to ensure attractants, such as garbage, are securely stored and to take precautions in case of wildlife encounters. Resources and safety tips can be found at ”
