Grizzly bear feeding on dandelions prompts lockdown at Canmore school
There were some tense moments for students and parents arriving at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic School in Canmore on Friday morning when a grizzly bear wandered onto the soccer field to munch on some dandelions.
Police were called in to steer the bear away, which took some time, said Staff Sgt. Ryan Singleton.
Officers used their sirens to try and scare the bear off but it was more interested in breakfast than the people nearby, he said.
"It was definitely choosing to eat rather than listening to us," he said.
Officers were eventually able to push the bear to an area behind the golf course to the south, "where it should be," said Singleton.
"This is normal (bear) activity for this time of year," he said.
The school was placed on lockdown for a short time as a precaution.
Fish and Wildlife officers also arrived on scene Friday morning and were patrolling the area after putting out signage to warn residents.
"There were a lot of people walking. The bear did not act aggressively but it was approaching vehicles," said Singleton.
Alberta Fish and Wildlife says most of Alberta is bear country and those headed into the backcountry should carry noise makers and bear spray. A number of bear safety tips were also offered, including:
- If you encounter a bear in the wild, follow these tips to avoid a conflict;
- Do not run. Stay calm. Stay with your group and keep children close. Assess the situation;
- Look around. If you see cubs or an animal carcass, the bear will want to protect them. If you see either, back away from them;
- Prepare to use your bear spray;
- Back out. Leave the area the way that you came. Keep your eye on the bear without staring at it aggressively;
- Watch for a place to hide. As you back away, seek out a place of safety, such as a car or building;
- Speak to the bear in a soft, low voice. Let the bear know that you are human and not a prey animal, and;
-
Use your noisemaker and prepare to defend yourself with bear spray.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Maximum payout for LifeLabs class-action drops from $150 estimate to $7.86
Canadian LifeLabs customers who filed an application for a class-action settlement began receiving their payments this week, though at a much lower amount than initially expected.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.