WARNING: This story contains graphic content that may upset readers. Discretion is advised.

Breanna Kettlewell says she was traumatized last week at the Mission landfill after watching a dead bear being dumped.

She was at the landfill site on May 2 to drop off a load of refuse.

害羞草研究所淎s I害羞草研究所檓 pulling in, I saw the conservation officers pulling in with a trailer on the back. So I watched them and they go and dump a baby cub into a pile of landfill. It was really upsetting to see,害羞草研究所� Kettlewell said.

She said she decided to 害羞草研究所渒eep my eyes and ears open害羞草研究所� when she went back to the site on Monday, May 6.

害羞草研究所淟o and behold, what did I see? Another baby cub being dumped.害羞草研究所�

The dumping did not take place at the front portion of the site, where most members of the public drop off their waste; rather, it was at the face of the landfill at the back of the site.

害羞草研究所淥bviously, I want fewer bears being shot, for one. I want to know why these bears were killed in the first place. I mean, they害羞草研究所檙e cubs.害羞草研究所�

Kettlewell said she hasn害羞草研究所檛 heard about any bear attacks in the area and has yet to hear back from any conservation officers.

She also said if 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所渁nd that害羞草研究所檚 a big if害羞草研究所澓π卟菅芯克鶕 a bear has to be killed, its remains should be reused, either left for other animals to feed on or for cultural purposes.

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害羞草研究所淏ut mainly my goal is that fewer bears should be killed.害羞草研究所�

When contacted, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service released this statement to The Mission Record.

害羞草研究所淗uman-wildlife interaction is an ongoing public safety issue in communities throughout the Lower Mainland, especially in the spring and summer months.

害羞草研究所淚n the unfortunate event when an animal must be euthanized, the Conservation Officer Service (COS) works to ensure proper disposal of the body.

害羞草研究所淚n more remote locations, COS officers seek ways to dispose of the animal in the natural environment. In cases where this is not an option, such as those close to urban areas, often the only option is to transport it to landfill.

害羞草研究所淚n those cases, COS staff make efforts to ensure landfill operators dispose of the animal where it is not accessible to view.

害羞草研究所淚n this case, the bear in question was a high conflict animal which had recently entered a house in Maple Ridge. The bear was tranquilized and euthanized by conservation officers, as it was a threat to public safety and not a candidate for relocation.

害羞草研究所淭he COS brought the bear carcass to the landfill for burial. The photo was taken prior to the bear being buried. Conservation officers will continue to make efforts to ensure landfill operators dispose of the animal where it is not accessible to view.害羞草研究所�

Barry Azevedo, the District of Mission害羞草研究所檚 manager of environmental services, said conservation officers have been bringing animal carcasses to the landfill for some time.

害羞草研究所淭hey have to dispose of the carcasses somewhere. It could be road kill or other things,害羞草研究所� he said.

The landfill actually accepts many dead animals at the sites, including horses, dogs, cats and more. Only cows are not accepted due to a high risk of disease.

Azevedo said the public doesn害羞草研究所檛 normally see the carcasses.

害羞草研究所淢ost people don害羞草研究所檛 actually go to the actual active face of the landfill. It害羞草研究所檚 only when you are disposing of something particularly bulky. Most residents drop things off at the garbage dropoff area by the scale house.害羞草研究所�

Commercial businesses often go directly to the active landfill site, as do the conservation officers.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 where the conservation officers come. They put it right at the landfill face, and it gets buried in a short period of time. Things are constantly being covered with soil at the landfill.害羞草研究所�

However, Kettlewell said it isn害羞草研究所檛 hard to see the main landfill from the normal dropoff area.

害羞草研究所淲here people usually dump the small stuff, you can just look right over the ledge and see the huge landfill,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚 just want something changed. It害羞草研究所檚 not right.害羞草研究所�

Azevedo said people have an ability to help with the situation.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of bears get shot because they become nuisance bears and it害羞草研究所檚 because people aren害羞草研究所檛 managing their garbage or their fruit trees. They aren害羞草研究所檛 following proper bear-safe practices and if people did that, fewer bears would be shot,害羞草研究所� he said.

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