Bear Sightings In Nanaimo Prompt Warning

 Residents utilizing public trails in the Harewood and Westwood Rd are urged to be cautious after several sightings in the past week of a mother bear and her two cubs.

The first reported sighting was Sunday night around 9 PM, on Westwood Rd just off East Wellington Rd ,near the park and go. In that instance the three were seen sauntering towards the Island Highway. The next confirmed sighting was yesterday at approximately 3:15 PM, just north of NDSS on the Parkway trail, when a mother and her two cubs were spotted. Officers attended immediately and NDSS staff were advised and alerted students. Conservation officers were also informed. The area was searched but the bears were not be located and there were no further sightings of them. Members stayed in the area for some time but did not see the bears again.

“Conservation officers have indicated bears in this area are extremely desensitized to human encounters and would most likely if encountered ,head in the opposite direction or climb up a nearby tree. However, you must always treat wild animals with a respect and give them  a wide berth. If you are out for a walk or run and you happen to run into a bear, remain calm and slowly back away from it, talking to it in a quiet monotone voice. Watch the bear without making direct eye contact and wait for it to leave,” said Constable Gary O’Brien, media spokesperson for the Nanaimo RCMP.

Lastly , fruit from trees that falls on the ground should be picked up as soon as possible and not left to rot on the ground. Bird feeders should also be emptied or suspended very high. If you feed birds throughout the fall season , the ground beneath it should be cleaned and only place a small amount of feed out at any given time.

To report a bear sighting you can call either the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Conservation at 1-800-663-WILD(9453).