Sam Wang/Staff reporter
With spring having started, black bears have been emerging from hibernation, and two were recently spotted in a Coquitlam yard in on April 10. , the black bear actually played on a trampoline.
A video was shot by Coquitlam resident Rose Waldron. It showed two cubs on a trampoline. Rose Waldron’s husband, Doug Waldron, said bears often visit their backyard.
“That’s their bathing place and fishing hole. This is their country. They can come and go as they please. They don’t bother anyone,” said Rose Waldron.
Although the bear stayed on the trampoline for quite some time, the trampoline was not damaged, except that the pole supporting the trampoline broke under the bear’s weight.
She laughed and said, “It’s good enough for somebody [weighing] 150 pounds or less, I’m sure, but having 800 pounds of bear on your trampoline didn’t help things.” According to the cbc news.
Coincidentally, a black bear was also at Gleneagle Secondary school on the afternoon of May 5, apparently scavenging for food in a trash can.
As black bears have recently come out of hibernation, they will go looking for food. Please don’t panic if you meet them. Here are some tips for dealing with a black bear encounter.
Stand and face the bear directly. Do not avoid or approach him.
Open your arms wide, or better yet, wear a coat to make yourself look as big as possible.
Make as much noise as possible by Shouting, banging POTS and pans, or using other noise-making equipment.
On the rare occasions when a black bear does attack you, fight back (don’t play dead).
Once the bear is gone, remove anything that drew him to the location (grill, bird feeder, pet food, or trash).
These methods are limited to black bears. According to the The Human Society of the United States.
Source link: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/coquitlam-backyard-bear-wrestling-1.6422159
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-black-bears