The B.C. man accused of taming two dozen bears found at a marijuana grow-op says he fears the animals will be killed after they awake from hibernation.
Christina Lake resident Allen Piche appeared in court this week to face charges of feeding dangerous wildlife and marijuana production – but says his legal woes are less important than the fate of the bears.
"My concern has really been about the bears all the time," he told CTV News.
The bears, which were discovered during a police raid last August, are believed to be hibernating in the hills above Christina Lake. In a few months, they will begin waking up – and could head right back to Piche's property.
If they cause any trouble in the community, they will be deemed dangerously habituated to humans and destroyed.
"The conservation officer said in his report possibly all 24 bears will have to be put down," Piche said. "As soon as I heard that I thought, okay, I have to do more here."
The Ministry of Environment says it can't predict what the bears will do in the spring, but that they will monitor the situation.
Authorities have also ordered a fence be placed around Piche's property to keep them out, but so far none has been erected.
Piche says if the bears are destroyed, he will not be the only one liable.
"I don't feel 100 per cent responsible for what's going to happen from here on because I've offered suggestions that don't include killing them," he said.
He also denies speculation the bears were used to guard a marijuana grow-op, a claim that has spurred a stack of hate mail.
He is due back in court February 16.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Kent Molgat
