BROCKVILLE – City police officers were forced to shoot and kill a young black bear after the animal confronted them late Friday night.
The bear had been wandering the east end of the city for days after Ministry of Natural Resources officers had attempted to tranquilize the bruin on Monday.
Officers were called to Waverly Drive around 11 p.m. last night (May 13) after someone spotted the bear in the area.
Brockville police had called on the MNR again but, according to policy, conservation officers are not able to shoot their tranquilizer guns at night, police said.
Officers tried to herd the animal out of the city but the animal was “persistent” in travelling deeper into Brockville.
“The animal chose to stand its ground and defend itself and the officers took lethal action which was regrettably successful,” Brockville Police said in a statement.
“With an animal such as this with its persistence the need to keep our community and our officers safe is paramount,” police said.