Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Inuvik (July 22/02) - A wildlife officer destroyed a young black bear Wednesday after it was found rummaging through garbage near the centre of town Wednesday.

A resident of Loucheux Road, near Breynat Street, phoned RCMP at about 7 a.m. to report that a black bear was knocking over garbage cans outside his house. The bear was dragging garbage into the bush, mere blocks from the site of the Great Northern Arts Festival, taking place last week.

Police asked people at the festival tents to go inside as they cordoned off the area, diverting five vehicles and one jogger.

When the wildlife officer arrived, he destroyed the animal after observing it was not afraid of vehicles or people.

So far this year, there have been three bear sightings in Inuvik, mostly near the dump. Wildlife officers follow a three-strikes-and-you're-out policy. Bears that wander into the town limits more than twice are considered problem bears and destroyed. In this case, the bear was so fearless, it was considered an immediate threat to the public.

"It wasn't running away or anything, so it may have been accustomed to getting into the garbage," said fish and wildlife manager Tim Devine of the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Black bears and grizzlies are common in most parts of the NWT. Although they don't normally attack humans, in June 2001 an 18-year-old man was killed by a black bear near Yellowknife.

Inuvik RCMP are taking the opportunity to remind tourists and residents that summer is bear season.

When walking in the bush, travellers should make loud noises to avoid surprising a bear, and anyone who encounters a bear should slowly back away, and leave the area immediately. "Always face the bear," Devine says. "Don't run, just back off slowly."

RWED offers regular bear safety presentations at the Inuvik visitor's centre, and bear safety information is available at all RWED offices.