BEAR INCIDENT FEARED AS GROW OP RESIDENTS RETURN TO PROPERTY

As an online petition to save a group of black bears found protecting
a marijuana grow op in B.C. continues to gain high-profile support,
conservation officers are considering a plan to lure the animals back
into the wild.

But with reports that the people arrested are out on bail and have
returned home to the acreage near Christina Lake, an animal expert
warns the bears need to be led away as soon as possible.

"This is an extraordinarily dangerous situation now that the grow op
owners are back," said Else Paulsen, a bear behaviourist and former
zookeeper at the Calgary Zoo.

"The bears are not going to be able to understand that when the owners
are back, the food has dried up. Normal bear behaviour is they would
press the point and try to break in."

As many as 15 black bears were found guarding a million-dollar drug
operation in July near the tiny community of Christina Lake, where
they were being fed dog food by humans.

Initial fears that the bears would be euthanized led to an online
petition and a Facebook page being created which have attracted
thousands of responses including offers of donations the public,
including actor Jason Priestley.

B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner said the animals would only be
killed in a last resort if public safety were deemed to be at risk.

"We are hoping that the animals will disperse on their own and revert
back to seeking natural food sources. Hopefully the bears remember
their training from their mother when they were younger and will go
back to doing that and prepare for winter," said Penner. "If not, the
ministry's prepared to consider whether there's some other way to
essentially lure them away from that area and further into the
mountains by leaving some kind of food incentives."

Options such as planting temporary food stations or possibly
relocating them will be considered if they don't move off on their
own.

"We have to be very careful because we don't want to continue to have
those bears associate people with a free meal ticket," said Penner.
"That's dangerous for people in the long run, if bears lose their fear
of people and it can ultimately be a bad thing for bears."

B.C. has a black bear population estimated at 120,000 to 160,000. Last
year, 68 were relocated in B.C., according to Penner.

The online petition and Facebook page were created by Doreen
McCrindle, a Calgary woman who describes herself as an animal lover
who wants to ensure every option to save the bears is explored.

"We want to work with the ministry to find a humane alternative and
also to raise awareness about the dangers of feeding wildlife," said
McCrindle.

"We are extremely encouraged and pleased the ministry is looking at
alternatives."