Bear put down by RCMP in West Side area Thursday

A black bear on the west side brought the RCMP
to attend to the situation on Thursday
(photo from Facebook)

Prince Rupert RCMP responded to calls for assistance yesterday following reports of a wandering black bear on the west side of the city, with members from the detachment putting the bear down in the early hours  of Thursday evening.

The first reports of the black bear came through social media, which has also served as a forum of sorts as local residents in the city discussed the shooting of the bear.

As the night moved following the incident there were a range of opinions put forward as to how the situation was handled.  

As is often the case with Social media, the commentary is offering up some correct observations on the situation, some of it incorrect and a fair amount of it speculative at best.

When it comes to any form of official information flow, prior to the decision to shoot the bear, there were no advisories for the public related to the animal or dangers posed by it relayed through the variety of  the city's information options on Thursday. 

To this point there have been no official statements related to the engagement released by either the City of Prince Rupert or the local detachment of the RCMP.

The shooting of the bear most likely will once again bring calls for the need of the placement of a Conservation Service Officer in the Prince Rupert area, with the closest response to such situations coming from Terrace.

Prince Rupert City Council last made note of its concerns over the need for such an officer back in June.

For more notes of interest on the work of Emergency Responders in the Northwest see our archive page here.