This weekend, a mother bear and cub were seen in Saanich on someone’s property and police had to issue a warning to residents regarding the matter.
In the afternoon of Sunday, January 21st, the two bears were seen making their way up a gated driveway in the 600 block of Brookleigh Road, near Hamsterly Beach in Saanich.
Police say that the bears were not displaying any aggressive behaviour, but to exercise caution, nearby residents were warned to ensure their pets were not being left outside unattended.
Otherwise, Saanich Police officers advised neighbours to stay inside and for others to avoid the area until the bears were gone.
Victoria Buzz reached out to Saanich Police and the BC Conservation Officer Service (COS) to see if the bears were able to get through the area without incident, but have not received a response yet, as of this publication.
According to the COS, it is imperative that people adhere by the following best practices when they see a bear to ensure the bears’ safety as well as their neighbours’:
- Do not feed bears—not only is it against the law to feed bears, but once a bear has had a taste of human food, it will seek that out and will likely have to be shot and killed
- Remain calm and do not run or climb a tree—It is best to slowly back away, talking to the bear in a quiet, monotone voice. Do not scream, turn your back on the bear, kneel down or make direct eye contact
- Keep away from the bear—do not try to get closer to it. If the bear gets too close, use pepper spray or something else to threaten or distract it
- Stay together—if you are with others, act as a group. Keep children close – pick up and carry small children
- Go indoors—bring pets indoors if possible
- Watch the bear until it leaves—make sure the bear has a clear escape route
