Sudbury

Bear shot in New Sudbury neighbourhood this week likely suffered: police

Sudbury police say a bear was shot in a residential New Sudbury neighbourhood this week — and it likely suffered before it died.

'No evidence' to suggest bear found dead in driveway was 'immediate danger to public safety'

A neighbour in New Sudbury took this picture of the bear found dead in a driveway on Rutherglen Street. The police covered it with a tarp, Maria Bozzo told CBC News in an email. "When I saw it earlier during my walk, I assumed it was sleeping and got away as quickly as I could," she said. Bozzo remarked the numbers of incidents and the numbers of bears this year are higher than last year. "This is, by no means, the only one roaming the area." (Maria Bozzo)

The shooting of a bear has shaken people in a residential neighbourhood of Sudbury.

Sudbury Police say the animal died in an inhumane manner as a result of being shot. The bear was found dead this week in a driveway in the area of Rutherglen Crescent.

Police responded to a bear complaint on Thursday just before 11:30 a.m. in the area of Rutherglen Crescent. 

The dead animal, which appears to have been shot late on Wednesday according to a press release, was found in a driveway. It was examined by Ministry of Natural Resources officials.

Area resident Joseph Sintic said something has to be done about bears in the city, but said he is upset someone would shoot a bear in the neighbourhood.

"No, I don't believe in that because there are children and it is dangerous for the individual, as well as the bear," he said.

"Your intent is to kill him, but sometimes you would wound him and this is what happened to this guy, he got wounded and wandered and died the next morning."

Neither the MNR nor police officers were called about the animal before it was shot. 

Police said killing a bear is only acceptable when there's an immediate danger to public safety, and "there is no evidence at this time to suggest that these circumstances existed." 

Sudbury Police and the Ministry of Natural Resources continue to investigate.