Damage to doors of Yukon University after a black bear had broken in // Courtesy: Yukon Conservation Officer Services
WHITEHORSE, YT – It’s been confirmed by Yukon Conservation Officer Services that a Black Bear had broken into Yukon University last night, Thursday, September 26th, and it was euthanized near the campus Gymnasium.
Conservation Officers were called in at about 10:45pm on Thursday, after the bear had smashed through an exterior door and a pane glass window to gain access to the main campus building.
Quick thinking University staff were able to open another door and let the bear back outside. It was then located near the campus Gymnasium, and was killed.
Conservation Officers say the bear had shown signs of habituation to humans and was not a candidate for relocation given that had entered the building. COs note this type of behavior is something bears can learn to do again if they had been successful before.
The Conservation Officer Service also notes this is an unusual occurrence within the city of Whitehorse, and they don’t currently know why the bear had behaved this way.
Thankfully, there were no injuries to anyone involved during the incident.
