Environment Yukon says there is no evidence that a bear was responsible for the death of a Ross River man over the weekend.
Conservation officers, along with RCMP, went to Ross River around 6 p.m. Sunday evening after a body was discovered in the community this weekend.
There was concern in the community that the man may have been killed by a bear, but Environment Yukon says there are no signs of that.
“After examining evidence at the scene, as well as the surrounding area, COs and RCMP did not discover any sign of bear or other wildlife activity,” the department said in a press release.
“Conservation officers have spoken to residents and have installed several trail cameras in the area. They will continue to investigate.”
Police have passed the investigation onto the coroner.
“As this death is not suspicious (by not suspicious we mean it did not have a criminal cause) it is considered what we call a Coroner’s Act and therefore the responsibility the Yukon Cononer’s Office,” said Staff Sgt. Brad Kaeding.
“The RCMP still assists in those investigations and conducts much of the work in support of the coroner.”
Coroner Kirsten Macdonald said it’s too early to say how the man died.
“The cause and manner of death is currently undetermined,” she said.
“At this point in the investigation, it would be irresponsible to speculate on cause of death until an autopsy can be performed and all details of the circumstances are confirmed through the proper investigative channels.”
The body is being sent to Vancouver for an autopsy.