Photo: YouTube

A black bear wandering around Coquitlam Centre mall Monday evening was tranquilized and euthanized.

Police say the crowd that gathered was as much trouble as the bear, as people were following it, even getting in its path to take a video or photograph it.

“They weren’t giving it any space,” said RCMP Cpl. Michael McLaughlin, who said officers had their hands full trying to control traffic and keep people away from the creature. At one point, 60 people were surrounding the bear, trying to get a better look.

The surprising scene began about 8:30 p.m. when the solitary bear entered the mall parking lot, then made its way to the entrance near H&M and Walmart.

BC Conservation Officers responded about 9:45 p.m., at which point the bear had travelled across the street to a small green space and climbed a tree.

The conservation officers immobilized the bear with a tranquilizer dart, but because it had a history of trying to get food in the area, it was taken away and euthanized.

“This is not something we like to do — it is not the conservation officer’s favourite part of the job by any means. [But] we have to deal with public safety and we have policy dealing with wildlife management,” Sgt. Todd Hunter said. “Once they have that human food condition, they’re dangerous for that reason."