'Sweet-natured' bear who wanted to 'coexist with humans' killed as locals kept feeding him food to shoot videos
A good-natured black bear was killed days after local residents kept leaving food out for it to take his videos in North Shore, Vancouver. The bear, known as Huckleberry, was often spotted eating berries and would generally return to the forest when prompted to do so, reports state.
The North Shore Black Bear Society was tracking the bear, and the society's members who often escort him back to the forest. However, Huckleberry soon became accustomed to human food after residents began leaving food out to him on purpose. The society said that getting accustomed to human food is a "death sentence" for wild bears.
After multiple reports of Huckleberry eating human food emerged, Conservative officers came to the area to tranquilize the bear and he was taken away to be euthanized. Huckleberry's tragic story was shared by North Shore Black Bear Society on its Facebook page on Thursday, August 6. The post read: "Huckleberry, our journey together began on July 2. You were eating scraps from an organics cart – the enclosure had been left open. Even though you were eating, you were very easy to move on. We walked you back to the forest and hoped to see you again on the trails."
"The next time we met, you were at the roadside eating berries. As we walked you back to the forest, you stood and sniffed a garbage can. We used a firm tone and told you to leave – you listened. As you walked away, you left a bright pink scat full of huckleberries! We were so proud of you for eating natural foods, despite all the tempting treats residents had left available to you. From that moment, we named you Huckleberry!" the post continued.
Huckleberry, our journey together began on July 2. You were eating scraps from an organics cart - the enclosure had been...
Posted by North Shore Black Bear Society on Wednesday, 5 August 2020
The society said that although residents left accessible food for Huckleberry, they never made an effort to move him on to the forest. It added that the bear would have listened to them if they used a firm voice with him as he did with the society's workers.
"Reports started coming in of you finding easy rewards from garbage and organics carts. People admitted they allowed you to do that for a video and they neglected to move you on…a death sentence. If only people had used a firm voice with you, you would have listened. Or respected you enough to not have any garbage or food scraps accessible in the first place. We did you a disservice, Huckleberry," the post added.
"On July 31st you were eating berries at the edge of the forest. We headed out to make sure you were not being crowded or chased by dogs. By the time we reached you, you were being followed by residents who wanted a video of you eating organics from an unlocked cart. Due to the crowd of people, it wasn’t safe for us to move you on. When you finished eating, you calmly walked by and left our gaze. That was the last time we saw you. Later that day you were tranquilized by the Conservation Officers and taken away to be killed," the statement said.
The heart-breaking post concluded by saying that although the "sweet-natured bear" was happy to coexist with humans, people were not ready to coexist with him.