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
Princess Anne to take part in B.C. ceremony bringing new ship into Pacific fleet
Canada's first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will officially be brought into the Pacific fleet today and Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles, is scheduled to take part in its commissioning ceremony.
NEW Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Magnitude 4.8 earthquake recorded west of Vancouver Island
A 4.8-magnitude earthquake was reported west of Vancouver Island Thursday evening.
More than half of Canadians say freedom of speech is under threat, new poll suggests
A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians feel their right to freedom of speech is in danger.
How falling for a stranger she met on a beach led this woman to ditch the U.S. for the French Riviera
Niki Benjamin, from the U.S., had travelled to a paradise island to do some soul searching, and her life ended up going in a very different direction when her dog ran up to a stranger.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Feds giving Toronto more than $104M to host 2026 FIFA World Cup
The federal government will provide Toronto just over $104 million in funding to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Police clear encampments as U.S. campus arrests exceed 2,300 amid pro-Palestinian protests
Police ordered pro-Palestinian protesters to clear out of a tent encampment at New York University early Friday, a move that follows weeks of demonstrations and police confrontations at college campuses nationwide that have resulted in more than 2,300 arrests.
Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing
Emotional support animal registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: 'Wally Gator.'