Despite an overall decline in the number of black bears handled by the Conservation Officer Service, Fort Nelson reported five cases in 2025, compared with a single case the year before.
Across the Peace Liard region, 11 black bears were killed dispatch, meaning their death was necessary “for public safety reasons, such as human-wildlife conflict.” Five were euthanized “for welfare reasons,” according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service’s 2025 recap.
Five of those 16 black bears were called in from Fort Nelson, and none of those bears required euthanasia.
Compared to the previous year’s report, the regional trend remains stable. In 2024, the conservation service said 12 black bears were dispatched in the Peace Liard region. Locally, however, Fort Nelson reported significantly more bears being dispatched last year. In 2024, only one bear was dispatched. This upward swing was unique to the community, and generally, reports decreased in B.C.
“Officers dispatched 178 black bears and euthanized 33 black bears last year, for a total of 211. This is also the lowest overall number since the BCCOS predator statistics were first published online, in 2011,” the service explained in a review alongside the stats.
“Last year also saw the fewest black bear calls reported to the (RAPP) since 2011, with 13,672. In 2023, for example, there were 27,896 black bear reports,” it said.
