A young male bear that led RCMP and conservation officers on a chase in and around Whistler Village early this week has been captured and relocated.

The small bear that came into Whistler Village several times Sunday through Tuesday (July 18 to 20), and was responsible for stealing a man's lunch and damaging a garbage bin in Rebagliati Park, was pursued and shot with a tranquilizer dart late Wednesday (July 21), Sgt. Chris Doyle of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service said on Thursday (July 22).

More than once during the ordeal, the bear ventured onto the Village Stroll, and appeared to have little fear of humans, officers said.

After it was tranquilized, “due to its persistent conflict behaviour, the decision was made to translocate it about 80 kilometres away,” Doyle said