Two B.C. residents fined $3,000 each for not reporting grizzly bear Tex’s killing, which sparked debate over safety, conservation, and misinformation.

Two Texada Island residents were each fined $3,000 for failing to report the killing of a grizzly bear named Tex in July 2025. The bear, a five-year-old male previously relocated due to aggressive behavior, was shot before a provincial relocation plan could be carried out. Though the individuals pleaded guilty, the actual shooter remains unidentified. The case drew national attention, highlighting tensions between public safety, conservation efforts, and misinformation. A portion of the fines will fund wildlife habitat conservation.