New figures from the B.C. Conservation Officer Service show seven black bears were killed in the Campbell River area in 2025, all of them dispatched due to public safety concerns.

According to statistics released by the Conservation Officer Service, the Campbell River total includes seven bears killed as a result of human-wildlife conflict, with no bears euthanized due to injury.

That places Campbell River among several Vancouver Island communities dealing with ongoing bear conflicts.

Provincewide, a total of 211 black bears were dispatched in 2025. Of those, 178 were dispatched because they posed a risk to public safety, while 33 were euthanized due to welfare concerns such as severe injuries, often from vehicle collisions.

The data show Vancouver Island communities continue to experience significant bear activity.

Ucluelet recorded 13 bears killed this year, while Port Hardy reported five. Comox and Courtenay each recorded one bear killed in 2025.

The Conservation Officer Service defines a “dispatch” as a bear killed for public safety reasons, typically after repeated conflict with people, while “euthanized” refers to bears killed due to serious injuries that could not be treated.

Conservation officers regularly remind residents that attractants such as garbage, bird feeders, and unsecured food are the leading cause of bear conflicts.

Black bear statistics, including a 2025 breakdown by community, can be found at Government of British Columbia.