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May 09, 2013 - 10:33 AM
Kelowna residents did the right thing last night when finding an unexpected visitor in their backyard.
RCMP received numerous calls last night reporting a black bear wandering through the Capri Mall area neighborhood. Residents responded calmly and cooly by observing the bear from their homes, giving it time to move along without provocation.
Apparently the bear had scaled a tree, a sign the animal felt anxious in the urban community.
The bear was last spotted at 2 a.m. making its way down 1300 block of Belaire Avenue.
Constable Kris Clark says the bear was "doing things bears do," but still needed to alert the public.
"We don't have as many interfaces with bears here as in other places," Clark says.
"But there are lots of orchards and bears are omnivorous and eat fruits and vegetables."
Wildlife sightings can come as a surprise for urban residents but there's no need for panic. The BearAware guide recommends some simple strategies to respond safely in such a situation.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Julie Whittet at jwhittet@infotelnews.ca or call (250)718-0428.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013