The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is asking for help identifying two men seen feeding bears in social media clips
Article content
Conservation officers are investigating a series of videos showing people feeding a grizzly bear in remote northwestern B.C.
Article content
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service was contacted by several people who had seen videos on social media depicting two men allegedly hand-feeding a grizzly bear in the Smithers area over the Victoria Day long weekend.
Article content
Article content
“On one occasion, a man is seen feeding a bear a carrot from a vehicle,” a representative of the service said in a statement. “In another, a man is outside of a vehicle trying to feed a bear an apple. A second grizzly bear can be seen in the background.”
Article content
Story continues below
Article content
Officers believe the videos were shot in the area of Hudson Bay Mountain Road to the southwest of the Smithers town centre.
Article content
Article content
Sunrise
Article content
“Feeding dangerous wildlife is not only illegal, but an extremely risky activity both for the safety of the person, as well as the bear,” said conservation officer Cody Cyr.
Article content
“These individuals could have been seriously hurt, or worse. Feeding bears is not helping them. Feeding bears creates a public safety risk by conditioning the animals to human food and presence.”
Article content
Officers are investigating and will take enforcement action when it is warranted against anyone feeding dangerous wildlife.
Article content
Penalties can range up to $100,000 and include jail time.
Article content
Conservation officers do not currently believe the people seen in the videos live in British Columbia.
Article content
Anyone with information that could help with the investigation is asked to report it at the RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) line, 1-877-952-7277.
Article content
Article content
