Hope pharmacy bear euthanasia confirmed by local volunteer

A female bear was euthanized after wandering into a Pharmasave on Wallace Avenue in downtown Hope on September 20. The sow, who was accompanied by a small cub, was seen moving through the store and walking between vehicles in a busy tourist area.

Lydia Koot, chair of the Hope Mountain Black Bear Committee, confirmed the euthanasia and noted that the sow had been previously tagged for human interactions. Koot expressed distress over the incident but noted that conservation officers must perform difficult tasks. She attributed the increased bear presence in residential areas to habitat loss, wildfire smoke, and the drying up of natural food sources like berries due to heat. Koot also urged residents and visitors to better manage garbage and avoid harassing wildlife to prevent future encounters.