Once a bear is no longer afraid of people, there's really no other choice. In New Mexico problem bears are usually given second and third chances. They are tranquilized and hauled off to new areas. Sometimes it works, more often it doesn't. And each time the bear returns, it's more bold and more of a hazard. Often bears are killed on highways while trying to return home, even after being moved hundreds of miles. The old theory was that younger bears and cubs had a higher relocation success rate, since they were less likely to return. But with modern tracking devices and better record-keeping, it turns out that the younger bears were being killed after being dropped into another bear's territory.
The turning point occurs when the bear's behaviour progresses beyond 'curious', usually after successfully getting something to eat.
"A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear"
If that New Jersey bear was hanging around a campground and didn't run away at the first sight of a person, it wasn't his first exposure to people and food. The game control officer isn't the person to blame in this situation. Whatever careless people allowed to bear to get food previously are the ones who killed the bear.
-Bob
The turning point occurs when the bear's behaviour progresses beyond 'curious', usually after successfully getting something to eat.
"A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear"
If that New Jersey bear was hanging around a campground and didn't run away at the first sight of a person, it wasn't his first exposure to people and food. The game control officer isn't the person to blame in this situation. Whatever careless people allowed to bear to get food previously are the ones who killed the bear.
-Bob