Pulling the trigger wasnB次元官网网址檛 easy for Terry Sterling when a fowl-eating bear returned to his Metchosin farm.

B次元官网网址淚t was the last thing I wanted to do,B次元官网网址� Sterling said. B次元官网网址淚t was either me or someone else.B次元官网网址�

The bear bolted through the farm repeatedly for two months. The farmerB次元官网网址檚 last resort was shooting it.

Sterling raises free range fowl, including chickens, duck and turkeys. In all his years farming itB次元官网网址檚 the first time he has had an issue with bears coming after the birds.

B次元官网网址淗e was in good shape and he (appeared) well fed,B次元官网网址� Sterling said of the bear.

The tragic tale started in July, when the bear started chasing the chickens and ducks. The first time Sterling pulled his rifle was Aug. 6 when the chickens alerted him.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had chickens since I was 12, they let me know with the tempo and tone,B次元官网网址� said the 56-year-old. B次元官网网址淚 knew a predator was there, but I thought it was a raccoon, hawk or a mink.B次元官网网址�

When Sterling saw the bear he let out a warning shot.

B次元官网网址淚 shot at the bear to protect my livestock. I shot just behind him. I just wanted to scare him,B次元官网网址� he said.

The bearB次元官网网址檚 reaction worried him.

B次元官网网址淚 though heB次元官网网址檇 be out of there like B次元官网网址榖amB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� Sterling said smacking his hands together. B次元官网网址淏ut he didnB次元官网网址檛 gallop off; he just briskly ran off. IB次元官网网址檝e scared bears before, this was not normal.B次元官网网址�

Sterling came home after a farmerB次元官网网址檚 market Aug. 11, to find two turkey carcasses. Aug. 26 he was up early harvesting vegetables when he heard his chickens alert him to a predator.

When he saw it was the same bear, he shot it to protect the animals.

B次元官网网址淚 just felt that there was no alternative,B次元官网网址� Sterling said.

Throughout the two months of bear trouble Sterling was in contact with the conservation officers. They unsuccessfully set up a bear trap on his property and nearby farms trying to capture the problem bear. A neighbour also took a shot at a bear July 8.

Conservation officers told Sterling to put the chickens behind an electric fence to keep them safe.

B次元官网网址淓lectric fencing is the least you can do,B次元官网网址� said Peter Pauwels, conservation officer. B次元官网网址淚f a bear gets at taste for (chickens) then it will keep coming back for the easy pickings.B次元官网网址�

Sterling opposes the idea but, said if other bears attack his livestock he will consider either  electric fencing or not raising chickens all together.

Sterling knows he lives in bear country and has farmed there for 25 years. In the past five he started having incidents with a bear, but mostly over fruit trees. It was the first time B次元官网网址� the bears attacked his animals.

Since the bear was killed there have been no more bear-related incidents on his property.

There has been a rise in both bear and cougar sightings in the area and residents are asked to keep livestock in barns overnight.

B次元官网网址淣o livestock has been killed in Highlands for a few months now,B次元官网网址� said conservation officer Peter Pauwels, adding livestock bordering Highlands has been killed by cougars recently.

Cougars hunt at night and Pauwels suggests people take extra caution in the evening.

B次元官网网址淐hildren should not be out by themselves when it starts to get dark,B次元官网网址� Pauwels said. B次元官网网址淭here have always been cougars in Highlands and there always will be. People should always be cautious.B次元官网网址�