In early May, two black bears roaming a rural residential subdivision in Whitehorse got into unlocked dumpsters and gorged on human trash. When the bears became aggressive, territorial conservation officers euthanized the animals. “This is a sad reminder that our actions directly impact the lives of our wild neighbours,” Yukon Conservation Officer Services posted on its Facebook page. “We can do better.”
Living in the Yukon means sharing space with bears. In Whitehorse, we carry bear spray when out on the trails, shout and sing as we hike, bike, and run through the woods to alert wildlife to our presence, and post about sightings of bears in the neighbourhood on Facebook so people give them space. The Yukon government urges residents to take down bird feeders, lock up waste, and put electric fencing around chicken coops and outdoor compost. Despite the annual reminders, every spring and summer, bears wander into the city, and every spring and summer, they are killed.
