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<\/a>around the McCowan and Finch area. \u00a0That is about 9 kilometres from the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo and only 4 kilometres from the busy Scarborough Town Centre, one of Toronto’s major regional shopping centres.<\/p>\n
It is doubtful whether the bear was a tourist looking for a good deal, as it was found rummaging through backyards and even knocking on the door of one of the resident’s. The Metro Zoo claims that its not their bear as they \u00a0have \u00a0none missing. It is also unlikely that the bear was a stray pet.<\/p>\n
Toronto Police called in the Emergency Task Force, who shot the bear to death in the name of public safety. It is unknown as to whether any attempt was made to contact qualified individuals from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo, or Animal Control, who may have had better knowledge, experience and tools other than guns to manage the situation.<\/p>\n
Interestingly, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources has been aware of other bear\u00a0sightings in the Toronto Area over the past few days, but none in City of Toronto boundaries until this incident.<\/p>\n
Since the ministry halted the “trap and relocate program” in 2012, bear sightings in the GTA have been increasingly. \u00a0As early as 2013, the then\u00a0New Democrat MPP John Vanthof had said during question that budget cuts are putting lives at risk and forcing people to defend themselves in an encounter with the potentially deadly animals. Liberal Premier’s Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne have not placed much focus on Natural Resources.<\/p>\n
Enjoy your next evening stroll in your neighbourhood.<\/p>\n