Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Conservation Service Investigates Videos of Men Hand‑Feeding Grizzlies Near Smithers

Officials say the footage shows illegal feeding that conditions bears to people and have asked the public for tips to aid an active investigation.

Overview

  • Conservation officers opened an investigation after social‑media clips showing two men hand‑feeding grizzly bears were circulated over the Victoria Day long weekend.
  • The footage, reviewed by officers, shows one man offering a carrot from a vehicle and another outside the vehicle holding an apple while a second grizzly appears in the background.
  • Officers say the likely location is the Hudson Bay Mountain Road area southwest of Smithers and they do not currently believe the people in the videos live in British Columbia.
  • The B.C. Conservation Officer Service warned that feeding dangerous wildlife is illegal, creates public‑safety and animal‑welfare risks, and can carry fines up to $100,000 or jail time when enforcement is warranted.
  • Authorities asked anyone with information to call the RAPP line at 1‑877‑952‑7277 and reminded the public that bears habituated to people are often euthanized when they become a safety threat.