Bear shot by RCMP in Steinbach

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This article was published 23/05/2024 (346 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A black bear that ran into a Steinbach residential backyard was put down by RCMP on Victoria Day.

Four shots rang out Monday afternoon — two shots separated by several seconds followed by two more back-to-back shots a couple minutes later — in southeast Steinbach across from Memorial Cemetery on McKenzie Avenue near Brandt Street.

Police said in a statement that they received a call around 4:45 p.m. for the bear spotted about two kilometres away in the area of Biscayne Drive and Alderwood Crescent on the southern edge of the city. RCMP said before their arrival several more calls came in saying that the bear was now at the Steinbach Regional Secondary School.

Three marked and one unmarked police vehicles were seen responding and used their lights and sirens while attempting to escort the bear out of town.

“Unfortunately due to the heavy pedestrian traffic and behaviour of the bear, it had to be put down,” read the RCMP statement.

Jocelynne Gauthier was at home on Brandt Street when she saw the bear run across the highway.

“I saw him coming northward down the highway towards Steinbach, and then he ran into the cemetery. The cops tried to block him off but he escaped, came across the road here (McKenzie Avenue), into the backyard, and then they shot him,” described Gauthier.

She said no Conservation officers were present.

“I wish they could have done something else, but I guess they did what they thought they had to,” said Gauthier.

The police statement said Manitoba Conservation was advised and assisted with the removal of the bear. People were at the home when the bear came into the yard.