A dead bear is causing a stink for Squamish residents who live along the Mamquam Blind Channel.
About two weeks ago, a black bear was found tied to a tree near Marina Estates and was reported to provincial Conservation Officers.
The bear has been floating in the channel ever since and is starting to naturally decompose, causing an unwanted odour to waft throughout the area.
Residents have expressed their concern to authorities to have the animal removed from the area, but have been told that won't happen anytime soon.
"It's a natural object in a natural environment so we won't be retrieving it," said Conservation Officer Chris Doyle. "If an animal is found in the bush we don't remove it - we just let nature take its course."
The death of the bear is unknown, and there are several possibilities of how it may have ended up in the waterway.
"It's possible it could've been shot by hunters (legal bear-hunting season ends June 16), or hit by a boat or it may have been dumped there by someone who shot the bear on their property," said Doyle.
The situation is a low priority for conservation officials, as there are no suspects and no crime scene evidence.
"Some people have asked for it to be removed but right now we're busy dealing with problem bears and other animal violations," he said.
