Resident: Police had no choice but to shoot (photos, video)

It was a traumatic morning for Kingslea Court resident Monique Swain, whose home directly faces the area where a mother bear was shot and killed Monday.

Greater Sudbury Police officers and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry were on the scene after reports that the bruins were in a yard.

"The bear was in the driveway of the neighbour's house,” Swain said. “Her two cubs were up in the tree. The police officers chased the (mother) bear up into the tree. They tranquilized her, but she came down too soon. She wasn't feeling the grogginess yet.”

As soon as the bear hit the ground, it charged the MNRF officer, prompting police to shoot it with a shotgun.

“When she hit the ground, she was in defence mode and she charged,” she said. “The officer had to shoot her."

Police shot the bear twice, but the bear ran for a bit, so the officer fired again.

"She was still trying to get away,” Swain said. “Her paws were moving ... The neighbours were yelling for him to shoot her again, because she was suffering."

"I yelled, 'Just do it!' We wanted him to get it over with. We know you got to do it by now. Obviously, you're not going to pack her up and take her to the vet. So just get it over with. Why do these babies need to see their mommy suffer? That's what disturbs me a lot."

Police fired two more shots, putting the mother bear out of her misery. While commending police and the MNRF for their response, Swain said she and others were very upset that it took so long to put the bear down.

"The officers have been very courteous and polite,” she said. “The ministry was awesome. I was just really upset they couldn't put her down right away, that she was suffering for a little while, until they shot the last two times. I just wish there was a faster-acting tranquilizer.

"I'll never forget it. The two cubs were still up in the tree, and they climbed up a little higher. I don't blame them — they were up in the tree watching their mom try and protect them."

It's been the worst year she can remember for bears, Swain said. Seeing a bear while putting the garbage out or walking her dog has become commonplace.

One was killed earlier in the summer on Woodbine Avenue. Another mother and three cubs were taken away about a month ago, and she said there's still another male bear prowling the neighbourhood.

"He's pretty big — he's a good 400-450 pounds," she said. "This year has been really, really, really bad year for bears."