The bear that made headlines in the West Island of Montreal on Sunday, was euthanized. The organization which participated in its capture, Sauvetage Animal Rescue, said it was “in shock”, and hoped instead that the beast would be released by the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks. Sadly, this was not how the story played out.
Late Monday, Animal Rescue took to social media to state:
"THE BEAR OF DORVAL EUTHANASIÉ❗
We have just learned in the media that the bear captured yesterday in Dorval would have been euthanized. According to the information reported, the latter is not frightened enough by humans and risks reoffending, creating a public safety risk.
At the end of yesterday's operation, we were informed that the bear was going to be released away from the city. We were not contacted by the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks to tell us that another decision would have been taken.
On our side, we are in contact with several shelters which could have taken charge of the young bear if the release was impossible.
We are in shock and are currently trying to confirm the information."
“At the end of yesterday’s operation [dimanche], we were informed that the bear was going to be released away from the city,"
The bear was allegedly euthanized “because of the high risk of recurrence” according to a release by Ministre des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs / Député d'Abitibi-Est, Pierre Dufour. Because the bear was longer sufficiently afraid of humans, he posed a threat to the population.
The bear was first seen by residents of Dorval around 1 p.m. Sunday. The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) referred to Sauvetage Animal Rescue, since the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs could not be reached.
The Animal Rescue team that had been dispatched to the scene said the bear was “in shock”.
However, officials from the Department arrived a few hours later on the grounds of the residence where the bear was perched in a tree, on Boulevard des Sources, near Lakeshore Road. These same officers administered tranquillizers to the bear using darts. At 7:30 p.m., the animal was finally captured.
Animal Rescue said it was in contact with several organizations that could have looked after the bear, in the event that its release was not possible. “We are in shock,” the emergency animal service said.
