Conservation officers are searching for a bear that charged at a mother in Port Coquitlam late Wednesday night.
Const. Jamie Phillipson, a spokesman for the Coquitlam RCMP, said a man had just come home shortly after 11 p.m. and was carrying groceries into the house when he noticed that a bear was sleeping in their front yard of their house in the 3000-block of Cedar Drive.
The bear was startled and ran toward the road. Then the animal, believed to be a young black bear, was struck by a car.
According to the RCMP report, the injured cub ran back toward the house on Cedar Drive and charged at the man’s wife. A child was in the car at the time, but was not in harm’s way at any time, Phillipson said..
The man then chased off the bear. The man’s wife was not attacked by the bear, Phillipson said. Conservation officers arrived on scene and said they did not believe the bear was seriously injured.
Officers are patrolling the neighbourhood looking for the bear, but as of Thursday morning had found no sign of the animal. Though conservation officer Sgt. Todd Hunter said they had observed signs the bear had been in other unsecured garbage bins.
“There was garbage scattered all over the front of their property,” said Hunter. “The bear had got into their unlocked, unsecured bin, which had been left on the curb.”
Hunter said officers searched a trail on both sides of the property and along Cedar Creek but did not find the bear. “We want to make sure it is OK and that it’s safe for residents. A bear can be unpredictable if confronted when injured.”
Todd said it is likely that when the bear charged at the woman, it was taking a defensive stance to protect the food it had discovered. “The younger bears are just learning. Showing that aggression is in their nature,” he said.
Hunter is urging residents, especially in the Tri-Cities area, to secure their garbage bins and not to leave them outside longer than necessary.
ticrawford@postmedia.com
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