A black bear exceeding 500 pounds (227 kilograms) that has been breaking into homes in a picturesque community in California may be killed shortly, prompting outrage from animal campaigners.
The Independent reported that the bear, who goes by the names Jake or Yogi among locals, does not hunt but has developed a habit of eating rubbish in the region.
No Other Choices
According to a representative for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, killing the bear was their only option because it had already caused damage to 38 properties and prompted more than 150 emergency calls.
The wildlife service has put up big container-sized traps to capture and kill the bear.
"For this bear, it's the point of no return," said Jason Holley, a supervising wildlife biologist with the Fish and Wildlife Department. "But the public needs to correct the factors that got us to this point, or it will continue," he said.
"This is difficult for the personnel; they didn't get into biology to kill," he said, adding that they were responding to concerns and will file a report under the habituated bear policy.
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Citizen Action
According to Nevada Current, some disgruntled citizens have taken it upon themselves to disrupt the bear-killing attempt by taking turns watching and scaring the bear away or playing loud music. Some people even pray for the traps to be painted with' Bear Killer.'
Authorities want to intervene before the animal harms someone, but their actions have sparked widespread outrage.
Toogee Sielsch, a black bear advocate, told South Tahoe Now, "It's a serious scenario. It makes my heart shatter."
According to Ann Bryant of Bear League, a non-profit organization that promotes people to live in peace with bears, the bear will "pay the price for human stupidity."
The Bear League has called the decree harsh and ineffective, urging authorities to consider other measures. "We don't want anyone to get injured," said the group.
Relocation
According to the Fish and Wildlife Department, relocating the bear was not an option because the animal would not survive. After all, it does not know how to hunt.
"They generally suffer a dreadful death attempting to live after the transfer," Bryant concurred. She did say, though, that the bear might be transported to a sanctuary and that she had called out to one, which had agreed to take the bear in. The Bear League has also offered to cover the costs of the animal's relocation to a refuge.
Following public pressure, the government agency has decided to evaluate the proposal.
According to the wildlife agency and campaigners, residents are being urged to "bear-proof" their houses and waste bins to keep the animals away from residential areas and simple food sources.
Also Read: Bears Breaking Into Homes: After Escaping From Wildfire, California Residents Face New Threat
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