Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers were trying to capture two young grizzly bears spotted roaming in the Rocky Mountain House area Sunday.
One of the bears was captured Monday and was euthanized Tuesday, a spokesperson from Alberta Fish and Wildlife said.
The bear was conditioned to seek human garbage, stated an email from the agency.
“And in accordance with government of Alberta’s grizzly bear response guide, the bear was put down.”
The second grizzly appears to have left town, but Fish and Wildlife officers continue to receive reports of the bear being around private property and acreages west of Rocky Mountain House.
The agency says the bears got into between 20 and 30 residential garbage bins and ate whatever was inside on Sunday.
“Something wildlife biologists refer to as positive-food rewards. The bears stuck around afterwards pursuing other potential sources of human food.”
Officers closed off the trails along the North Saskatchewan River to public access. The agency asks the public to not enter the closed area, which is marked with signage.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife asks residents to take steps to ensure bears do not access unnatural food sources.
Residents are reminded to store garbage and compost in bear-proof containers, or a building that cannot be accessed by the animals.
Improperly stored garbage is the most common cause of human-bear conflicts.
Any sightings of the bears can be reported to Report a Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.
mamta.lulla@reddeeradvocate.com
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