Conservation officers in B.C. are investigating after a video surfaced that appears to show someone hand feeding a bear near Tofino.
The conservation office says the video was taken on Highway 4, and it is now looking into a report of unlawful bear feeding.
Under the BC Wildlife Act, feeding bears is illegal, and considered very dangerous for both the bear and the public.
“Want another one there bud?” the person recording the video asks as he hands the bear food. “Just let him go for it,” he tells others after he drops it. Cars can be heard passing in the background.
On a Facebook post, the office said the black bear may end up hurting someone else trying to get to more “unnatural food” or causing a traffic accident.
“The bear is also at risk of getting hit by a vehicle as it approaches or crosses the highway for a food reward,” the post reads.
“Feeding bears also results in them getting food conditioned and habituated leading to further conflict.”
Commenters chimed in to shame the person seen feeding the small bear by hand.
“This person just gave this poor bear a death sentence,” wrote Sarah Satte-Case.
“A fed bear is a dead bear,” wrote Susie Noble. “I wish people weren’t so stupid.”
The Conservation Officer Service has a tip line to report environmental violations, at 1-877-952-7277.
If the tip leads to a conviction, informants may be eligible for up to a $2,000 reward from the BC Wildlife Federation.
