Signatures/donations pouring in to save bears guarding Christina Lake grow op

by Kyra Hoggan on 22 Aug 2010

There are now three Facebook groups and an online petition with almost 1,000 signatures, all dedicated to saving the bears found at a Christina Lake grow-op last month.

(See EXCLUSIVE: Interview with officers who raided bear-protected grow op; The Castlegar Source, August 2010).

The online petition says this: “Police involved in a Canadian drug bust found over a dozen black bears roaming in a field of marijuana, apparently fed by the growers to guard the plants. The bears did nothing to stop police and appeared friendly and docile, but because of their prolonged exposure to humans, it is now being debated whether or not they should be put down.

“Please sign this petition asking Canadian officials to release the bears in a human-free area, or if they are unable to take care of themselves in the wild, send them to a reputable sanctuary.”

As of this posting, the site boasts 978 signatures, with a stated goal of 1,500.

Alan Westerman, B.C. resident, posted this comment along with his electronic signature, “The Bears (sic) were minding thier own business before they got sucked in by these clowns.”

The petition was created by 42-year-old Calgarian Doreen McCrindle and boasts signatures from around the world, including China and Australia.

Signatories are even offing donations to help relocate the bears.

“Lorne, Norma and Jason Priestley own Terrace Beach Resort in Ucluelet, B.C. Terrace Beach Resort pledges $1,000 to contribute to any costs incurred to send all the bears to a sanctuary and/or to the costs of the sanctuary. I think it is very obvious that these bears will never survive on their own in the wild, having been fed like pet dogs for who knows how many years. Norma Priestley also pledges to contribute $250. To think that these bears might be put down is absolutely out of the question and we vow to help in any way we can to make sure that does not happen. I ask all the other accommodation providers in Ucluelet to step up and do the same - we love our bears! Thank you so much to the folks that started this petition.

“Sincerely, Norma Priestley, Terrace Beach Resort, Ucluelet”

The petition can be found at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/959/062/842/