Bear is Shot and Killed After Wandering Into Scarborough Backyard

Early in the morning of May 13, 2017, Toronto police shot and killed a bear in the backyard of a Scarborough home.

Reports of the bear were first received around 10p.m. the night before, and was said to be first seen in the area of Tapscott Road and Finch Avenue East. The animal was believed to be an adult black bear and was likely looking for food, or was confused. Reports say the bear had been going through resident’s garbage cans, and one resident reported that the bear had banged on her door.

Toronto police tracked and located the bear before Emergency Task Force officers were deployed to shoot and kill the bear. The bear was shot near 2a.m. in a resident’s backyard near McCowan and Middlefield Roads. Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook of the Toronto police said that public safety was their main priority. "Typically, we don't have an issue with wildlife being in local areas here. And so, no, tranquilizers are not part of our use-of-force options," she said. Many residents feel that it was unnecessary for the bear to be killed and think that another solution could be found.