A juvenile black bear was shot and killed near a mobile home complex in Chilliwack Monday, after she was spotted up a tree by two children playing in their backyard.

The female bear, about two or three years old, was apparently waiting for residents to put out their garbage.

Conservation officer Dave Webster, who shot the bear because a tranquilizer gun was not available, said the physical condition and behaviour of the bear suggested it was comfortable with humans, and had probably been feeding on garbage and compost in the area for some time.

Some Westwood Estates residents said they had seen the bear earlier Monday wandering through the mobile home park off Watson Road, but had not reported it to authorities.

However, residents Dave Longfellow and Dustin Heaps, said they have lived their whole lives in the area, and have never seen a bear.

Erica Tremblay said it was "sad" the bear had to be shot, rather than tranquilized and returned to the wild, but also "kinda cool" her children experienced a bit of B.C. wildlife in the backyard.

"They were out back playing in the yard, when they heard water falling from the tree," she said.

It was the bear urinating.

Her children, Issak, 9, and Josie, 7, said they were playing on the trampoline when they heard water falling, and looked up to see the bear.

They got the attention of a passing motorist, who called the authorities.

Resident April Schierling was not so cool with the thought of a bear wandering around the mobile homes.

"There's so many kids here," she said, her six-year-old daughter playing just up the road from where the bear was discovered.

There are also several schools in the area, she said.

Webster said he made an "on the spot decision" to shoot the bear, rather than wait for a tranquilizer gun.

"For safety reasons, the bear was put down," he said.

The bear was not lactating, so no cubs were left without a mother, he added.