The city’s 311 service has been inundated with calls about the snow over the last couple of days and several bear sightings were also reported by citizens.
Three sighting were reported to 311 in recent days:
- A caller reported seeing a bear cub in the 6500 block of 35 Avenue N.W.
- Another cub was spotted on Woodbine Blvd. S.W.
- And a third bear was seen in the vicinity of James McKevitt Road S.W. heading toward Evergreen Street
The cubs could mean that the mother is close by and officials say they can be unpredictable and dangerous.
Alberta Parks has the following bear aware tips:
- Remain alert and be aware of your surroundings
- Travel or work in groups
- If you encounter a bear, stay calm. Never run away as that may cause the bear to pursue you. Speak to the bear to indicate you are a human and not a prey animal
- A surprised bear may be defensive – especially if protecting cubs. Slowly back away from the bear while talking to it
Crews that are out in the parks and green spaces working to remove debris from the recent snow storm are advised to keep an eye out for bear activity and report any problems.
For more information on how to prevent problems between bears and people, visit the Alberta BearSmart site HERE.
