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Yahoo
17-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Inside the secret plan to relocate a wayward B.C. grizzly bear
As people continue to mourn the loss of a wayward grizzly on an island off the B.C. coast, many are left wondering why the bear wasn't relocated to avoid what some say was its certain fate. In fact, despite the province's repeated claims that the bear had already been moved twice and thus wasn't a good candidate for relocation, a secret plan to transport him to a remote location was in place. "We had a very well thought-out plan and everybody on standby," said Erik Blaney, the shíshálh Nation's acting manager of lands and resources. "He would have been living his best life up there." That plan was laid to rest when conservation officers investigated a report that the grizzly had been shot and wounded, and then discovered its carcass earlier this week. Some local residents were shocked to find out about the relocation plan, given conservation officers' previous claims it would be impossible. Others think the bear could still be alive if they had been given information about the plan. But Blaney says social media and the misinformation that often comes with it made that impossible. Blaney, a legislator with the Tla'amin Nation, says the plan that he had hatched nearly three weeks ago was eventually approved by the province, with some minor changes. Details were kept under wraps and only shared with a handful of people. Some Texada Island residents — many of whom had asked for weeks for the bear to be relocated — are wondering why they weren't made aware of it. "It's unfortunate that the community wasn't [informed]," said Texada Island resident Daniel Cammiade. "[If we had] I think that it's quite possible that the bear would still be alive." Calls for relocation The five-year-old male grizzly was first spotted on Texada Island on May 25. Texada residents say the island is a predator-free community, and many were worried about the bear's presence. While some called for peaceful coexistence with the bear, many others wanted it relocated for its safety and their own. "It seems like things were left in the community's hands — a community that was not used to dealing with bears," Cammiade said. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service repeatedly told CBC News the bear wasn't a good candidate for relocation because it had already been relocated twice, but also said there was no "kill order" for the animal. Solution hatched By the end of June, Blaney's plan had been hatched. Working with the shíshálh, Homalco and Tla'amin nations, he wanted to trap the bear and move it to Bute Inlet, on Homalco territory, where it could live with other coastal grizzlies and be far enough away that it couldn't swim back. "I've worked up there for many years now and it's a pretty hard trek to get into town," Blaney told CBC News. "And there's plentiful salmon runs where we were going to drop them off and a really good pink salmon run expected this year." But the province didn't sign off on that plan. Blaney said the province told him that what they were asking was outside current policy — and that to capture and move the bear without a permit could lead to charges under the Wildlife Act. Change of plans Without informing the public, the province changed its mind. Speaking with CBC's On the Island guest host Kathryn Marlow Wednesday morning, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Randene Neill confirmed that the plan was approved almost two weeks ago. "We had a meeting with the local nation there, the Homalco Nation, in partnership with the shíshálh Nation as well, who came up with a really robust, clear plan about how they wanted to translocate it in partnership with the Grizzly Bear Foundation," said Neill, who is also the MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. "After talking to all of our specialists and our team, we agreed to try this translocation." Blaney says the nations worked with provincial officials to remind them that the shíshálh and Tla'amin nations are self-governing, and the province had an obligation to work with them to manage their wildlife resources. "They can't just do the old paternalistic land and resource management around us or without us. Those decisions actually need to be made by the self-governing nations," he said. Kept a secret The exact plan was kept secret, Blaney says, in order not to compromise any of the details. Blaney didn't want people hindering relocation efforts by posting about the trap's location on social media. Texada Island residents had created a Facebook group to post information about the bear, including its location. He says getting the right trap to Texada Island had already been delayed because of a claim on social media that the bear had been shot last week. That led officers to reroute the trap to Pemberton to relocate a bear in that area, Blaney says, and it took days to move the animal and get the trap back to Texada. Blaney says the trap was ready to go Tuesday morning, the day conservation officers announced the bear had been shot. Later that morning, the grizzly was found dead. "We had six staff ready for deployment and the plan in place, helicopter on standby," he said. It was too late. The bear's death is still under investigation.
CBC
17-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Inside the secret plan to relocate a wayward B.C. grizzly bear
As people continue to mourn the loss of a wayward grizzly on an island off the B.C. coast, many are left wondering why the bear wasn't relocated to avoid what some say was its certain fate. In fact, despite the province's repeated claims that the bear had already been moved twice and thus wasn't a good candidate for relocation, a secret plan to transport him to a remote location was in place. "We had a very well thought-out plan and everybody on standby," said Erik Blaney, the shíshálh Nation's acting manager of lands and resources. "He would have been living his best life up there." That plan was laid to rest when conservation officers investigated a report that the grizzly had been shot and wounded, and then discovered its carcass earlier this week. Some local residents were shocked to find out about the relocation plan, given conservation officers' previous claims it would be impossible. Others think the bear could still be alive if they had been given information about the plan. But Blaney says social media and the misinformation that often comes with it made that impossible. Blaney, a legislator with the Tla'amin Nation, says the plan that he had hatched nearly three weeks ago was eventually approved by the province, with some minor changes. Details were kept under wraps and only shared with a handful of people. Some Texada Island residents — many of whom had asked for weeks for the bear to be relocated — are wondering why they weren't made aware of it. "It's unfortunate that the community wasn't [informed]," said Texada Island resident Daniel Cammiade. "[If we had] I think that it's quite possible that the bear would still be alive." Calls for relocation The five-year-old male grizzly was first spotted on Texada Island on May 25. Texada residents say the island is a predator-free community, and many were worried about the bear's presence. While some called for peaceful coexistence with the bear, many others wanted it relocated for its safety and their own. "It seems like things were left in the community's hands — a community that was not used to dealing with bears," Cammiade said. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service repeatedly told CBC News the bear wasn't a good candidate for relocation because it had already been relocated twice, but also said there was no "kill order" for the animal. Solution hatched By the end of June, Blaney's plan had been hatched. Working with the shíshálh, Homalco and Tla'amin nations, he wanted to trap the bear and move it to Bute Inlet, on Homalco territory, where it could live with other coastal grizzlies and be far enough away that it couldn't swim back. "I've worked up there for many years now and it's a pretty hard trek to get into town," Blaney told CBC News. "And there's plentiful salmon runs where we were going to drop them off and a really good pink salmon run expected this year." But the province didn't sign off on that plan. Blaney said the province told him that what they were asking was outside current policy — and that to capture and move the bear without a permit could lead to charges under the Wildlife Act. Change of plans Without informing the public, the province changed its mind. Speaking with CBC's On the Island guest host Kathryn Marlow Wednesday morning, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Randene Neill confirmed that the plan was approved almost two weeks ago. "We had a meeting with the local nation there, the Homalco Nation, in partnership with the shíshálh Nation as well, who came up with a really robust, clear plan about how they wanted to translocate it in partnership with the Grizzly Bear Foundation," said Neill, who is also the MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. "After talking to all of our specialists and our team, we agreed to try this translocation." Blaney says the nations worked with provincial officials to remind them that the shíshálh and Tla'amin nations are self-governing, and the province had an obligation to work with them to manage their wildlife resources. "They can't just do the old paternalistic land and resource management around us or without us. Those decisions actually need to be made by the self-governing nations," he said. Kept a secret The exact plan was kept secret, Blaney says, in order not to compromise any of the details. Blaney didn't want people hindering relocation efforts by posting about the trap's location on social media. Texada Island residents had created a Facebook group to post information about the bear, including its location. He says getting the right trap to Texada Island had already been delayed because of a claim on social media that the bear had been shot last week. That led officers to reroute the trap to Pemberton to relocate a bear in that area, Blaney says, and it took days to move the animal and get the trap back to Texada. Blaney says the trap was ready to go Tuesday morning, the day conservation officers announced the bear had been shot. Later that morning, the grizzly was found dead. "We had six staff ready for deployment and the plan in place, helicopter on standby," he said. It was too late. The bear's death is still under investigation.
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
First Nations have plan to move problem grizzly but need go-ahead from B.C.
Three coastal First Nations have worked together to come up with a plan to move a grizzly bear that's been causing problems on Texada Island — just off B.C.'s Sunshine Coast — but so far, the province has not signed off. On June 13, the B.C. government said there was no "kill order" for the bear — but also that it was "not a candidate for relocation," because it had already been moved twice, before returning to human-inhabited areas. On Texada, the community of about 1,000 people has been divided on whether the bear should be killed or removed or left alone. But Erik Blaney — a legislator with the Tla'amin Nation — thinks the solution is to trap the bear and move it about one hundred kilometres northwest to Bute Inlet, where it can live with other coastal grizzlies and be far enough away that it can't swim back. Previously, the bear was relocated to Jervis Inlet, which is approximately 75 kilometres away. Blaney said he has worked with his nation, the neighbouring shíshálh Nation, and the Homalco First Nation to craft a plan for the relocation. Texada Island lies near the intersection of Tla'amin and shíshálh territory. Stewardship guardians from the nations would work together to trap the bear, which would then be moved by boat, and possibly plane, to Orford Bay in Bute Inlet, which is in Homalco territory. "We have the plan; we have the funding to do it. What we don't have is the province's assistance and backing," said Erik Blaney. He said they have been meeting with provincial officials and have some support, but have also been told that what they're asking is outside current policy — and that to capture and move the bear without a permit could lead to charges under the Wildlife Act. But he sees this as an opportunity for Tla'amin and shíshálh —both of which have self-governing agreements — to look after their lands and waters. "This really shows unity among coastal guardian programs that are doing exactly, you know, what we should, which is protecting the natural resources and wildlife within our territories." Homalco Chief Darren Blaney, who is a cousin of Erik Blaney, thinks it's a great plan. "When Erik called me to see about this bear that could potentially get killed, I give it a chance in Bute," he told CBC News. The Homalco have a tourism company that runs grizzly tours from Vancouver Island up to Bute Inlet. "We have an area that's about maybe five kilometres where the salmon gets into and we get about 50 to 60 grizzlies that come in there when the salmon runs are going," said Darren Blaney. He said it's a place where the grizzlies fatten up for winter. "So yeah, it's a good place for them and it's good for our tourism." The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said late Friday afternoon in an email that it is aware of the plan and that there are ongoing conversations between First Nations and the Grizzly Bear Foundation about it.
CBC
28-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
First Nations have plan to move problem grizzly but need go-ahead from B.C.
Three coastal First Nations have worked together to come up with a plan to move a grizzly bear that's been causing problems on Texada Island — just off B.C.'s Sunshine Coast — but so far, the province has not signed off. On June 13, the B.C. government said there was no "kill order" for the bear — but also that it was "not a candidate for relocation," because it had already been moved twice, before returning to human-inhabited areas. On Texada, the community of about 1,000 people has been divided on whether the bear should be killed or removed or left alone. But Erik Blaney — a legislator with the Tla'amin Nation — thinks the solution is to trap the bear and move it about one hundred kilometres northwest to Bute Inlet, where it can live with other coastal grizzlies and be far enough away that it can't swim back. Previously, the bear was relocated to Jervis Inlet, which is approximately 75 kilometres away. Blaney said he has worked with his nation, the neighbouring shíshálh Nation, and the Homalco First Nation to craft a plan for the relocation. Texada Island lies near the intersection of Tla'amin and shíshálh territory. Stewardship guardians from the nations would work together to trap the bear, which would then be moved by boat, and possibly plane, to Orford Bay in Bute Inlet, which is in Homalco territory. "We have the plan; we have the funding to do it. What we don't have is the province's assistance and backing," said Erik Blaney. He said they have been meeting with provincial officials and have some support, but have also been told that what they're asking is outside current policy — and that to capture and move the bear without a permit could lead to charges under the Wildlife Act. But he sees this as an opportunity for Tla'amin and shíshálh —both of which have self-governing agreements — to look after their lands and waters. "This really shows unity among coastal guardian programs that are doing exactly, you know, what we should, which is protecting the natural resources and wildlife within our territories." Homalco Chief Darren Blaney, who is a cousin of Erik Blaney, thinks it's a great plan. "When Erik called me to see about this bear that could potentially get killed, I give it a chance in Bute," he told CBC News. The Homalco have a tourism company that runs grizzly tours from Vancouver Island up to Bute Inlet. "We have an area that's about maybe five kilometres where the salmon gets into and we get about 50 to 60 grizzlies that come in there when the salmon runs are going," said Darren Blaney. He said it's a place where the grizzlies fatten up for winter. "So yeah, it's a good place for them and it's good for our tourism." The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship said late Friday afternoon in an email that it is aware of the plan and that there are ongoing conversations between First Nations and the Grizzly Bear Foundation about it.
