A stubborn sow and her three cubs are continuing to cause a stir in the Colwood area, digging in their paws and refusing to move on despite a relocation attempt by the Conservation Officer Service (COS).
Reports of the bear family began on social media in mid-October, with sightings in and around the neighbourhoods of Royal Bay and Triangle Mountain.
The family have been raising the alarm again, quite literally, setting off a warning siren in the backyard of a Colwood resident in the early hours of Nov. 3.
The candid camera moment clearly shows the four bears were ear-tagged by conservation officers.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has confirmed to Black Press Media the bears are known to the COS, who are closely monitoring the family in consultation with provincial wildlife biologists.
“In mid-September, the COS relocated these bears from a busy area near Glen Lake to a wilderness area outside of the city; however they returned less than three weeks later,” said the ministry in an emailed statement.
About the most recent sighting, Terry McManus says he was expecting to see deer when he checked security camera footage after receiving a motion detector warning. But instead, he was surprised to find the bears trundling through his yard.
“The deck lights and the warning siren got the bears’ attention but then they just went on their way,” said McManus, who noted the bears must have been passing through, as they did not return to his yard.
“[There’s] nothing in our yard to attract bears – I suppose they could have been attracted to some apple trees near us on neighbouring properties.”
The ministry is urging residents to secure attractants around their properties, such as ensuring that fruit is picked from trees and the ground. They also recommend locking up garbage until collection day.
Bear conflicts can be reported to COS via the Report All Poachers and Polluters hotline at 1-877-952-7277.
For tips on keeping wildlife wild, visit the website: www.WildSafeBC.com.
