A bear that wandered through downtown 91原创 on Sunday, Sept. 24 had to be put down, the provincial Conservation Officer Service (COS) confirmed Tuesday, saying it was looking into a report that some people may have been been feeding the animal.

鈥淧ublic safety is the priority of the COS,鈥� an unsigned COS statement said.

鈥淭o ensure public safety, this bear was put down. We know this is an unfortunate outcome [that] we work so hard to prevent.鈥�

On Sunday, police received numerous calls about a black bear in the 91原创/Surrey area and notified the COS.

It had reportedly travelled past the 91原创 Walmart and the Willowbrook Shopping Centre and was found at an apartment complex across from the Fraser Highway, where conservation officers were able to tranquilize the bear. It had an ear tag, meaning conservation officers have been in contact with it in the past.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Bear stroll through downtown 91原创 ends with capture

According to the COS, the female bear was euthanized after 鈥渁 thorough assessment, including a review of its history.鈥�

COS said the bear had been relocated from Coquitlam in mid-August and returned to a 鈥渉igh-density urban setting only weeks later.鈥�

鈥淒uring this time, conservation officers also received multiple reports of this bear accessing non-natural food sources, such as garbage. In addition, another report was received alleging this bear was being fed by people. The COS is actively investigating these feeding allegations.鈥�

鈥淐OS continues to urge the public to do their part to help keep wildlife wild,鈥� the statement added.

鈥淭he COS also cannot stress enough the importance of not feeding dangerous wildlife.鈥�

Multiple social media posts tracked the movement of the bear near the Home Depot hardware store, a motel, and the Willowbrook shopping centre before she was tranquilized in a building鈥檚 visitor parking, around 11:30 a.m.

Resident Allie Wilkinson, who lives in the building, which she described as 鈥渒itty-corner to Willowbrook mall,鈥� witnessed the capture.

鈥淚 actually just feel kind of bad for her,鈥� Wilkinson commented. 鈥淚 mean, she was just looking for somewhere to go, for something to eat.鈥�

Earlier in the day, Jeff Barrett took some pictures when he saw the bear heading for Willowbrook shopping centre.

鈥淚 was just standing in the Popeye鈥檚 parking lot waiting for them to open for their customer appreciation sale [and I] looked over, and there he was, walking up through the parking lot of Superstore and walked past me across to the RBC in the Willowbrook lot,鈥� Barrett told the 91原创 Advance Times.

To report a bear conflict or the unlawful feeding of dangerous wildlife, call the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-7277.

READ ALSO: Grizzly bears in Quesnel subdivision cause concern, debate

READ ALSO: Scavenging bears force 160 B.C. firefighters to pack up camp