A BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) investigation has led to charges against two men accused of killing a grizzly bear on Texada Island this summer.
The unnamed pair have been charged under the BC Wildlife Act with “failing to promptly report the wounding or killing of a grizzly bear.”
They’re set to appear in Powell River Provincial Court on Oct. 14
The bear in question became the focus of much public attention this summer after swimming to Texada Island in late May.
Although the bear was first spotted on the island on May 27, it was the subject of a BCCOS warning on May 22 after reportedly stalking two people in Powell River.
The BCCOS said they only escaped by getting in the water for 30 minutes while the animal circled back and forth, eventually tearing up one of their jackets before departing.
Throughout June, there were several reports of the bear chasing livestock and damaging property on Texada Island.
It was considered a danger to humans, but the BCCOS said the bear was not a candidate for relocation having already been moved twice from Sunshine Coast communities in September 2024.
At the time, Texada Island United Church Rev. Gayle Chouinard said the presence of the large predator “changed the way people do things.”
"We're used to just going outside and walking with our animals or dogs and not worrying about predators, you know?" she said. "So for many people, it's changed the way that they live their life because you know they no longer feel safe walking in the woods.
There was quite a divide in the community, with many wanting the bear killed and others begging for it to be relocated.
In mid-July, the decision was allegedly made by the two men now charged in the animal’s death, as the grizzly was first reported shot and wounded before being found dead by conservation officers.
In an update shared on Monday, the BCCOS said no further information will be provided at this time as the matter is now before the courts.
