Local conservation officers are appealing to the public to help them find out who killed a black bear that had been prowling around Invermere.

In the week leading up the Victoria Day long weekend, the officers had had several reports of a black bear in town and had been monitoring its progress.

It wasnt posing a safety issue, it was basically just wandering through looking for food, said conservation officer Greg Kruger, adding the final report on the bear was called in to the RCMP from the Pine Ridge subdivision.

On Monday, May 18th a report came in that a black bear carcass, shot in the neck, had been found dumped behind the Zehnder ranch gravel pit on Pine Ridge Mountain Run. The conservation officers are fairly certain it was the same bear they had been monitoring in Invermere.

We put two and two together that this was the bear from town and somebody had taken matters into their own hands. The last report was from Pine Ridge, all of a sudden the reports stop and then theres a bear carcass just up the road from Pine Ridge, said Mr. Kruger. Obviously we dont want people being vigilantes and doing this.

The officers are following up and investigating the incident.

If anybody knows anything about how the bear met its demise or who did it, even if they just heard a gunshot, they can call us. Any little bit helps, said Kruger.

Those with information can, if they wish, remain anonymous and should call either 1-877-952-7277 or 250-342-4265.