Anger as police gun down Newmarket bear

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Outrage erupted on social media today after York Regional Police officers shot and killed a black bear in a backyard in Newmarket.

It had been wandering around York region over the weekend but wildlife officials were unable to locate it until today. The animal was found near Yonge and Davis around 7 this morning.

Police say they were waiting for the Ministry of Natural Resources to arrive, when the bear began climbing down a tree. That’s when officers opened fire.

A supervisor with the ministry said staff arrived as quickly as they could after being called around 6:20, but hundreds of people have voiced their concerns over why the bear wasn’t tranquilized by police.

Jess Tate Tweeted: “Fatally shooting the Newmarket bear was completely unnecessary. It wasn’t threatening any harm on anyone. I’m absolutely disgusted.”

And Rosanna Armata says: “@Kathleen_Wynne please explain how the Ministry of Natural Resources forestry central didn’t know about & were unprepared in capturing the bear in Newmarket. #SenselessDeath.”

York Regional Police responded to the concerns on Twitter, saying “officers do not have tranquilizers or other options for dealing with wildlife. We could not let the bear harm a person while waiting for the Ministry of Natural Resources.”

Image: CityNews