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A black bear and her two cubs were stuck in a tree in Jasper for two hours on July 25, after a group of onlookers prevented her from climbing back down and escaping to the wilderness.
The cinnamon-coloured mother bear climbed a tree between the Tonquin Inn and Patricia Circle, where a group of about 100 people gathered to watch the bruin’s next move.
Thea Mitchell, spokesperson for Jasper National Park, said resource conservation officers were forced to close off the area and allow people to disperse before taking measures to scare the bear and her babies down from the tree.
Resource conservation officer A.L. Horton said the bear was frightened by all the activity.
“He suspected she was not used to people because she would not come down,” Mitchell said.
Conservation officers used bear bangers hoping to scare the bear down from the tree, but that attempt was unsuccessful. The initial call about the bear came in at 10 a.m., and it wasn’t until 12 p.m. that the bear led her cubs down the tree, once the crowd had thinned.
The bear then led her brood through town, and to the bench. Mitchell said there is a possibility she could have remained in the bench area with the two cubs, but no other sightings have been reported.
“She’s safe now as far as we know,” Mitchell said.
According to the most recent bear report on Parks Canada’s website, at this time of year, buffalo berries are ripening. The berry is a major food source for bears, and are common around the Whistlers and Wapiti campgrounds. Mothers are also travelling with their cubs, and Parks is encouraging backcountry users to be cautious, and informed about how to handle a bear encounter.
It is recommended that in the event of a bear sighting, give the bear as much space as possible - at least 100 metres. Travelling in groups, making noise and keeping your dog on a leash can help prevent bear encounters. Carrying bear spray is also recommended.
For more information on bear safety, see Parks Canada’s Jasper National Park website for the weekly bear update. |
