Protect The Grizzlies in Nelson: Demand Transparency & Accountability

An Urgent Update: We Are Asking for Transparency

In 2022, more than 25,000 people signed this petition calling for a different approach to the management and protection of bears in and around Nelson. Three years later, the issue has become even more urgent. This spring and summer, Nelson has experienced a poor berry season, while multiple grizzly bear families have spent significant time in and around our community. Despite their presence, these bears have, by all public accounts, largely coexisted peacefully with people. Residents have watched mothers and their young move through the landscape around us. People have learned to give them space, secure attractants and coexist with wildlife that has always been part of this ecosystem. And then, on August 12, 2026, a grizzly yearling was killed by the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS). On August 14th, the Mother Sow was killed by the BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS). According to a statement issued by BCCOS, the yearling had a deformed hind leg and had been seen frequently in the Nelson area with its mother and two siblings. BCCOS stated that the bear was killed following consultation with a provincial wildlife veterinarian and wildlife biologists, and that its age, injury and “conflict history” made it unsuitable for rehabilitation or relocation. And the Mother was reported to “exhibit food-conditioned behaviour and a significant loss of fear of people, including repeatedly accessing residential properties and non-natural food sources such as fruit trees and barbecues, and regularly remaining in close proximity to people.  The BCCOS and the BC Wildlife Branch have monitored this sow and her offspring for several years and has worked proactively with the community to reduce human-wildlife conflicts through attractant management. In 2023, the sow and a previous set of offspring were relocated in an effort to keep wildlife wild and reduce public safety risks.”  
But the public has not been provided with the information necessary to understand how this decision was reached. What was the specific conflict history? What incidents occurred, and when? Were there documented incidents involving property damage, food conditioning, aggression, or threats to human safety? What alternatives to killing the bear were considered? Why was relocation or rehabilitation determined to be unsuitable in this particular case? What assessment was made of the remaining yearlings, and what will happen to them now?

These are reasonable questions. They are particularly important when the public is being asked to accept the killing of young grizzly bear and his Mother who were living peacefully with their family in our community. The public has heard about sightings and concerns from residents, but sightings alone are not evidence of dangerous behaviour. In a community where grizzlies are increasingly visible, we need to know the difference between a bear being present and a bear being in conflict.

We are not asking wildlife professionals to ignore legitimate threats to human safety. We are asking for the decisions made on behalf of our community and the local wildlife to be transparent, evidence-based and publicly accountable. We are therefore calling on BCCOS and the provincial government to provide:

A clear account of the specific incidents comprising this bear’s stated “conflict history.” The dates, nature and outcomes of those incidents.
Information about the criteria used to determine that these bears were unsuitable for rehabilitation or relocation.
An explanation of what alternatives were considered before the decision to kill was made.
Clarification about the current status and management plan for the remaining yearlings.
Greater transparency around how grizzly bear conflict calls and sightings in the Nelson area are assessed and acted upon.
A commitment to meaningful public education about living safely alongside grizzly bears, particularly during periods of poor natural food availability.

Nelson is a community surrounded by wildlife habitat. Coexistence requires responsibility from all of us — residents, visitors and government agencies alike. The answer cannot simply be to remove bears whenever they become visible. We need a management approach that prioritizes public safety while recognizing that grizzly bears are an essential part of this ecosystem and that coexistence is possible.

We asked for this in 2022.

25,000 people stood behind that call.Today, we are asking again — this time for something very basic:

Tell the public what happened. Show us the evidence. Explain how this decision was made. And give our community a meaningful voice in how we coexist with the grizzly bears who call this place home.