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.

B次元官网网址淎s IB次元官网网址檓 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,B次元官网网址� Kettlewell said.

She said she decided to B次元官网网址渒eep my eyes and ears openB次元官网网址� when she went back to the site on Monday, May 6.

B次元官网网址淟o and behold, what did I see? Another baby cub being dumped.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淥bviously, I want fewer bears being shot, for one. I want to know why these bears were killed in the first place. I mean, theyB次元官网网址檙e cubs.B次元官网网址�

Kettlewell said she hasnB次元官网网址檛 heard about any bear attacks in the area and has yet to hear back from any conservation officers.

She also said if B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址渁nd thatB次元官网网址檚 a big ifB次元官网网址滲次元官网网址� 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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B次元官网网址淏ut mainly my goal is that fewer bears should be killed.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淗uman-wildlife interaction is an ongoing public safety issue in communities throughout the Lower Mainland, especially in the spring and summer months.

B次元官网网址淚n the unfortunate event when an animal must be euthanized, the Conservation Officer Service (COS) works to ensure proper disposal of the body.

B次元官网网址淚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.

B次元官网网址淚n those cases, COS staff make efforts to ensure landfill operators dispose of the animal where it is not accessible to view.

B次元官网网址淚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.

B次元官网网址淭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.B次元官网网址�

Barry Azevedo, the District of MissionB次元官网网址檚 manager of environmental services, said conservation officers have been bringing animal carcasses to the landfill for some time.

B次元官网网址淭hey have to dispose of the carcasses somewhere. It could be road kill or other things,B次元官网网址� 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 doesnB次元官网网址檛 normally see the carcasses.

B次元官网网址淢ost people donB次元官网网址檛 actually go to the actual active face of the landfill. ItB次元官网网址檚 only when you are disposing of something particularly bulky. Most residents drop things off at the garbage dropoff area by the scale house.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�

However, Kettlewell said it isnB次元官网网址檛 hard to see the main landfill from the normal dropoff area.

B次元官网网址淲here people usually dump the small stuff, you can just look right over the ledge and see the huge landfill,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淚 just want something changed. ItB次元官网网址檚 not right.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淎 lot of bears get shot because they become nuisance bears and itB次元官网网址檚 because people arenB次元官网网址檛 managing their garbage or their fruit trees. They arenB次元官网网址檛 following proper bear-safe practices and if people did that, fewer bears would be shot,B次元官网网址� he said.

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