A black bear was killed last week by members of the Conservation Officer Service, the only incident during an otherwise quiet bear season on the North Shore.

On Sunday, Nov. 8, conservation officers trapped and destroyed a aggressive black bear after it was reported breaking into a home in the Caufeild area .

According to Chris Dolye, conservation officer for the Sea to Sky Zone, the bear was one captured last year, tagged and relocated.

It returned to the North Shore and once again exhibited a "high level conflict" behaviour.

"When a bear enters a home, it's a public safety issue," Doyle said, explaining why it was destroyed.

For Tony Webb, chair of the North Shore Black Bear Network, the single bear death is a tangible sign the bear and human conflict numbers are improving in the area.

"We thought we were going to have a home run year," Webb said.

However, he said the behaviour of the bear made it clear conservation officers had no choice but to put it down.

"That is a level that's not acceptable ... it was given a second chance," he said.

Besides the single bear killed, Doyle added reports of bears were significantly down this year, from 1,800 in 2008 to only 1,000 this year. Only eight bears were relocated this year, he added.

"The berry crop was really good this year ... that kept the bears up high," Doyle said. "And we like to think the way people are managing the attractants are improving the situation as well."

With bears typically settling in for hibernation, Doyle warned local residents still need to be vigilant with garbage and other bear attractants.

"The bears will go to den shortly but if those attractants are out there they may stay out longer or not go (to den) at all," he said.

Webb agrees, asking people to "manage their bird feeders in a way they're not attracting bears... make sure you don't have any garbage that's outside that smells."

Backyard composts also have to be properly managed, Webb said, but, "Household garbage is 80 per cent of the problem."

Doyle said conservation officers have been doing door-to-door patrols to ensure attractants are kept in check.

One patrol last week covered 200 homes and 10 Dangerous Wildlife Protection Orders were issued, he said.

If those orders are not followed, Doyle said those caught could face a $575 fine.

dpi@northshoreoutlook.com