Tourists spark outrage by hand-feeding B.C. grizzly bears in social video
Feeding animals in the wild can cause more harm than good
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service posted a public request for information after an Instagram video showed tourists brazenly offering food to grizzly bears in the community of Smithers.
The video, shot over the May long weekend and since taken down, features men coaxing the bears to their car with a carrot, and later standing just metres from a bear while offering an apple.
In a lengthy Facebook post, the Service highlighted how dangerous these actions were for both the men and the bears.
So what is it about these actions that's so detrimental?
Offering a friendly snack to wildlife can quickly condition the animal, so that they no longer view humans as a threat, leading to aggressive behaviour. This has particularly big consequences for bears. The grizzlies from this video may now seek out humans instead of running away from them. When the next person they encounter doesn't offer food, the bear may become angry and attack.
This has also been a documented issue with raccoons in urban areas who approach residents after they've been fed in a particular neighbourhood.
B.C. authorities killed 178 black bears for aggressive behaviour in 2025 alone, which is a decline from previous years, attributed to a bumper wild berry season that kept bears from seeking unnatural food sources.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said the men from the video were not believed to be residents of B.C. and added that the fine for attempting to feed or attract wildlife can be up to $100,000 and may include jail time.