232807

BC  

Bear killed for brazen attack

A large black bear that entered a Sunshine Coast home and refused to leave even after being punched in the face has been killed.

Police said Elery Froude and her two sons were at their Franklin Beach area home Saturday about 5:30 p.m. when her son yelled "mom, look!"

“(Froude) turned in time to see the bear coming through her sliding glass door,” said Const. Karen Whitby.

The bear, weighing up to 250 pounds, roamed the house and drooled all over the dining room table.

They locked themselves in a bedroom while a friend yelled, banged pots and shook chairs at the bear before there was a standoff with the bear standing halfway in the home.

“The family friend slammed the door on the bear before finally punching it in the nose, which made (it) retreat outside,” said Whitby.

Once the door was closed, the bear stayed put, pawing and chewing the screen until police arrived.

Police said they scared the bear into the bushes with an air horn and by throwing water bottles at it, but it returned and tried to open the door to the garage.

The bear also chased a man down the street before he could jump into his truck.

“After liaising with conservation, it was determined that due to the bear's aggressive actions and lack of fear of humans, it was to be put down,” said Whitby.

Conservation Sgt. Miller said the adult bear did not have any overt signs that it had been suffering from any illness that would have resulted in the unusually brazen behaviour.



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