Inside the secret plan to relocate a wayward B.C. grizzly bear

As people continue to mourn the loss of a wayward grizzly on an island off the B.C. coast, many are left wondering why the bear wasn't relocated to avoid what some say was its certain fate. 

In fact, despite the province's repeated claims that the bear had already been moved twice and thus wasn't a good candidate for relocation, a secret plan to transport him to a remote location was in place.

"We had a very well thought-out plan and everybody on standby," said Erik Blaney, the shíshálh Nation's acting manager of lands and resources.

"He would have been living his best life up there."

That plan was laid to rest when conservation officers investigated a report that the grizzly had been shot and wounded, and then discovered its carcass earlier this week. 

Some local residents were shocked to find out about the relocation plan, given conservation officers' previous claims it would be impossible. Others think the bear could still be alive if they had been given information about the plan.

But Blaney says social media and the misinformation that often comes with it made that impossible. 

Blaney, a legislator with the Tla'amin Nation, says the plan that he had hatched nearly three weeks ago was eventually approved by the province, with some minor changes. 

Details were kept under wraps and only shared with a handful of people. Some Texada Island residents — many of whom had asked for weeks for the bear to be relocated — are wondering why they weren't made aware of it. 

"It's unfortunate that the community wasn't [informed]," said Texada Island resident Daniel Cammiade.

"[If we had] I think that it's quite possible that the bear would still be alive."

The five-year-old male grizzly was first spotted on Texada Island on May 25. Texada residents say the island is a predator-free community, and many were worried about the bear's presence. 

While some called for peaceful coexistence with the bear, many others wanted it relocated for its safety and their own. 

"It seems like things were left in the community's hands — a community that was not used to dealing with bears," Cammiade said.