COLLINS — ‘Pet’ bears are not cuddly
Barnhartvale’s ‘pet’ bear. (Image: Contributed, CFJC)
IT SEEMS so sweet on the surface that residents of Barnhartvale have their own pet bear. He even has a name. Residents have taken to calling him Harold.
It sounds so cute, having this bear wandering around the neighbourhood, just like a pet dog.
But it really isn’t sweet, and it isn’t really cute. Wild animals need to be contained, and relocated so they don’t create problems for people living in close proximity to them.
I’ve heard all the arguments about these kinds of things: “Oh, isn’t he cute.” “We don’t want to call Conservation because we don’t want him put down.”
Doug Collins is the Director of News, Information and Television Operations at CFJC-TV. Doug has been on the air in Kamloops since 1970. He was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Radio-Television News Directors Association of Canada in 2008.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Like it or not bears can be trained and when they are they are marvelous to be with.During the inter war years it was almost “du rigeur” to have a pet bear. My great uncle had a pet black bear in the late 40’s and lets not forget Winny the pooh.There are towns in Wisconsin that have learned to live with all bears and they occupy the same turf without incident.( Read The bears and I if you wish to understand what can be done if the circumstances are right.IN BARNHARTVILLE AND IN BC THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT!! REPEAT !! NOT RIGHT.We (YOU) are not he ones to learn the lesson. the bear always pays the price. .Your bear is already dead it just hasn’t been shot yet but the CO”S will kill it as soon as they hear about it.Unless someone pepper sprays it numerous times to force it back to the wilds it is a dead bear.
Congratulations!!! You are the guilty party.but the bear will pay the price.
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