THE CANADIAN PRESS
A black bear spotted in Prince Albert, Sask., earlier in the week has been killed by a conservation officer.
Saskatchewan Environment spokeswoman Val Nicholson said the bear was spotted on a deck, likely searching for food.
The animal reappeared on Wednesday afternoon about two kilometres east of the city.
She said they would have preferred to trap the bear and relocate it, but for public safety the bear had to be killed.
The officer said he found scat and tracks that indicated the bear had been in the area for some time.
Nicholson said a number of residents had been calling in with concerns regarding the bear's presence in the area.
The young bear was initially spotted Monday evening between W.J. Berezowksy School and Bauer Bay. He knocked over a few pots off a deck while searching for food.
At the time, conservation officer Stan Sutor said the bear's mother likely had new cubs and wasn't caring for him anymore, so he was looking for food.
A cold spring also meant green vegetation was minimal, possibly causing the bear to wander further away from its normal area in search of food.
It's common for bears to travel near the North Saskatchewan River, but it's rare to see them within city limits.
