Conservation officers in B.C. are investigating after a large adult black bear was found dead along a residential road on the Sunshine Coast.

The bear was found lying on Mills Road near Jasper Road in Sechelt on April 9.

Sunshine Coast resident Shaunna-Rae Williams said she saw the bear around 6:40 a.m. and did not see any blood near the animal.

“I grew up on the coast, and we were always taught to respect the bears,” Williams said. “They are as much a part of this community as the humans.”

She’s left wondering how the bear died.

“It absolutely breaks my heart,” Williams said.

Ellie Lamb has worked as a bear-viewing guide in B.C. for nearly 30 years. She said the bear was well-known in the community.

“This male bear was called ‘Big Boy’ by the community members and has been known to be a very gentle and very respectful bear to coexist with,” Lamb said.

She said the bear looked healthy.

“It’s a very big healthy bear, considering he just came out of hibernation … he could be a four- or eight-year-old bear,” Lamb said.

Lamb hopes the investigation will reveal how the bear died.

“Answers are the only way that people can discover a better path forward to coexist with these animals,” Lamb said.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) said it is aware of the dead black bear in West Sechelt and is investigating.

“As the investigation is ongoing, no further information can be provided at this time,” said a spokesperson.

Questions raised over death

The bear, not having any blood near it, raises questions for Lamb and the community.

“Dying in the middle of a road is quite unusual,” Lamb said. “Definitely lying down in that position does pose the question whether or not he was actually suffocating.”

Holly Reisner, the executive director of the North Shore Black Bear Society, said she spoke with Sunshine Coast Bear Alliance about where the bear was found.

“It may not be from a vehicle strike because the road that the bear was found on is not a very busy road,” Reisner said.

She too hopes the investigation will reveal the cause of death.

“Generally when conservation is investigating that, they want to rule out the possibility that it was a human caused death,” Reisner said

Lamb said the bears are valued members of communities.

“We need to know answers, and then we can find solutions to be able to coexist in a way that doesn’t do any harm to these animals,” Lamb said. “We don’t want to see them harmed. We don’t want to see them killed for any reason whatsoever.”

When it comes to attractants, she said it’s important that people keep them secured.

“That’s the reason why the bear is there in the first place,” Lamb said.