[420 Girl]

CALGARY -- Smokey the bear has been guarding more than old-growth forests.

Mounties in B.C. were stunned to discover a platoon of bruins standing sentinel at a huge garden of marijuana plants in sight of southeastern B.C.'s Christina Lake.

After acting on a tip about an outdoor marijuana grow-op, RCMP officers descended on the remote site about 700 km southwest of Calgary only to be greeted by as many as 14 black bears that Nelson RCMP Sgt. Fred Mansveld is convinced were there to ward off pot bandits.

"They wanted to intimidate people -- we do experience rip-offs around there," said an astonished Mansveld.

"In 30 years working in these mountains, I've seen a lot of bears but I've never seen that. ... There were big bears, little bears, groups of bears.

"It just goes to show you what length people will go in this business to secure their operation."

The bruins were extremely friendly and accustomed to surroundings made more comfortable by a steady diet of dog food.

"The bears weren't aggressive to the police officers who worked very close to them," he said.

One of the animals even climbed atop an RCMP cruiser to get a better view of the pot bust, said Mansveld.

About 1,000 to 1,200 pot plants were growing in the field.

The Mountie didn't rule out the possibility that the bears were fed marijuana.

"Maybe they mixed some pot into the food -- it's possible it's why they were so laid back ... they were just lollygagging around," he said, adding the bears had made friends with a raccoon and pot bellied pig also found on the property.

But Mansveld said the plight of the bears is no laughing matter, given their habituation to being fed by humans.

The animals are in the custody of B.C. conservation officials who'll now decide what to do with them.

"The ultimate fate of these bears is that they might have to be destroyed," he said.

"If you're really an animal lover, you don't kill the animal with kindness."

Police say it appears the bears have been a fixture at the wooded farm for some time.

It's an extreme example, said Mansveld, of a underground industry with deep, widespread roots in the area.

"It doesn't do the area any good -- we want to be on the map for the lake, hiking, golfing and fishing," he said.

A man and woman present when police arrived are facing charges related to marijuana cultivation.

There's no word if they'll also be facing animal abuse charges.



NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source:Edmonton Sun
Author: BILL KAUFMANN, QMI Agency
Contact: Contact Us | Edmonton Sun
Copyright:2010 EdmontonSun
Website:Cops: bears used to guard B.C. grow op | Canada | News | Edmonton Sun


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