‘Food-conditioned’ black bear euthanized in SW Calgary

A black bear that was spotted in southwest Calgary over the past few weeks has been euthanized.

Alberta’s Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services say the bear was captured in the Woodlands community near Fish Creek Provincial Park on Saturday.

The agency says the bear had been spotted several times eating from compost, garbage bins and fruit trees in the area.

Officers determined it was “food-conditioned,” and that euthanizing the bear was “the most appropriate action.”

“Relocation, especially for sub-adult bears, significantly reduces their chances of survival at this time of year due to unfamiliarity with new areas and the lack of pre-selected suitable denning sites,” reads a statement from a Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services spokesperson.

The bear sightings prompted Fish and Wildlife Enforcement to set up traps last week and temporarily close some areas of the park.