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
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Prince Harry, Meghan arrive in Nigeria to champion the Invictus Games and meet with wounded soldiers
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria on Friday to champion the Invictus Games, which he founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans, among them Nigerian soldiers fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists.
Countries struggle to draft 'pandemic treaty' to avoid mistakes made during COVID
After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.