East Kootenay reports drop in wildlife conflicts, bears killed in 2016

Conservation Officers in the East Kootenay dealt with considerably fewer wildlife complaints in 2016.

Sgt. Denny Chretien says the number of complaints revolving around urban deer, black bears and grizzly bears has dropped steadily over the past four years.

Chretien adds with a decrease in calls, there’s also been a decrease in aggressive bears killed.

“Ì know that our numbers so far are not over the 15 animal mark for the whole of the East Kootenay for this season so far, which would be May through until the end of November,” Chretien said. That’s compared to 52 killed throughout the region last year.