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'You never know what the day will bring': Coquitlam RCMP free bear trapped in garage

Coquitlam RCMP officers helped the trapped bear escape through a side door
Mario Bartel
Mario Bartel
BEARS
Coquitlam RCMP recently responded to a call for a bear trying to claw and chew its way out of a garage.Arezou Kamkar 

A bear looking for some tasty treats ended up with more fibre in its diet than it likely expected.

Coquitlam RCMP recently posted on X its officers responded to a call about a bear stuck in a garage only to find it trying to claw and chew its way through the wood siding above the door to escape.

“You never know what the day will bring,” said the post, adding officers were able to help the bruin return to its wild environs through a side door.

 

 

On its website, RCMP said it typically sees a spike in bear reports from May through September as the creatures are out and about foraging for food and more visitors are enjoying parks and trails.

It said most encounters between bears and people are harmless.

“In most cases, the bears are simply observed going about their bear business.”

When coming upon a bear, RCMP and the Conservation Officer Service (COS) recommend just leaving it alone while being careful not to cut off the creature’s escape path.

“It is normal for bears to roam through urban areas, especially as development encroaches on wild space,” said the RCMP, adding sightings should be reported to the COS so they can be tracked.

But if a bear is posing an immediate threat to public safety, call 9-1-1 so police can respond.

Managing attractants like garbage, food, ripe fruit and bird feeders so they don’t tempt a hungry bear can also reduce the chances of an unexpected or unwanted encounter.

Coquitlam’s bear smart guidelines include:

  • storing garbage and green carts as well as recycling bins in an location that’s inaccessible to wildlife
  • freeze meat and strong smelling food scraps before putting them in your green cart on collection day
  • put food waste in the green cart and not the garbage cart and don’t put them out until after 5:30 a.m. on collection day
  • keep your green and garbage carts clean between collection days
  • store refrigerators and freezers inside
  • keep pet food inside
  • pick fruit trees as soon as the fruit ripens
  • suspend bird feeders and clean up any spilled seed
  • keep barbecues clean