08/28/2026
Update on Nelson Grizzly Bears:
One of the yearling grizzly bears relocated from Nelson on August 14th was dispatched today.
Two collared grizzly bears were relocated more than 50 kilometers away from Nelson to a mountainous area with seasonally productive vegetation. Within days, the bears had turned up in Christina Lake, more than 30 kilometers away.
Conservation officers closely monitored bear activity in the Christina Lake area, in coordination with wildlife biologists with the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS).
The male yearling left and returned to Christina Lake and continued to frequent the residential area. RAPP calls reported the bear on the beach, in a boat, in backyards, and on the golf course. It was observed eating garbage in a busy campground resort on Thursday.
The high degree of comfort around people in a residential setting, dependence on non-natural food, and previous relocation made a subsequent relocation, or rehabilitation, not viable.
To ensure public safety, the male yearling was dispatched, in accordance with provincial human-wildlife conflict response guidelines developed by WLRS.
The female yearling has since moved away from the Christina Lake area and continues to be closely monitored.
Killing any bear is an unfortunate outcome that we work hard to prevent. Too often, bears become food-conditioned because attractants are not properly secured.
With fall approaching, it is more important than ever to secure attractants and help reduce human-wildlife conflicts. We all have a role to play. For information and resources, visit WildSafeBC.com.