Two grizzly bears that have been spotted roaming around on Cormorant Island for almost a week were captured on Thursday.
Officials say two male sibling grizzlies were originally sighted in Alert Bay on Sept. 16.
They have since been spotted on numerous occasions.
The animals had spent the last couple of days in residential yards eating plums and apples on the trees, according to Justin Beadle, Chief Administrative Officer with the Village of Alert Bay.
Bear traps had been set up since Sunday.
The pair was captured shortly before 9 a.m. on Thursday near the intersection of Atli and Gatu Streets, Beadle says.
Biologists at the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources will now determine a safe place for the bears to be relocated, likely on the mainland.
Beadle says while the bears were originally skittish around people, their sensitivity to humans had decreased over the last few days.
“The village is happy they are captured and relieved that they are okay,” Beadle told CTV News.
It’s believed this is the first time grizzlies have paid a visit to the island, he added.
According to officials, the duo swam to the island from their former space after being moved out by a dominant male grizzly.
The small stretch of land, off the coast of Port McNeill, is home to approximately 1,000 people.
