Bear season is heating up in the Tri-Cities, with numerous calls about bears near parks, in yards and along forest corridors.
And in one recent video snapped by a Coquitlam resident on Draycott Street near Mundy Park, a yearling bear was spotted climbing a fence and eating figs.
Sadi Giorgi Pezzi Gitz, who shot the video, said he went outside to water his garden last Thursday when he spotted the bruin in his son's plastic wading pool.
"Bears are also hot, they want to cool off in the water," Gitz said.
Sensing it was being watched, the bear left the yard, climbed a fence and wandered onto the neighbour's property, grabbing a fig before continuing on his way.
Gitz said his four-year-old son often plays in the yard and while the boy probably makes enough noise to keep bears at bay, he won't be leaving him alone in the yard and said of the bear, "He didn't want to do any business with me. He just walked away."
The Coquitlam man is also careful not to leave garbage or other attractants in his yard to attract bears.
Since the beginning of April, there have been 142 black bear calls from Coquitlam to the BC Conservation Officer Service, two of which were attended by officers; 55 calls made in Port Coquitlam, nine of which were attended, resulting in the deaths of four bears because of conflict concerns dealing with attractants; and in Port Moody, there were 41 calls, two of which were attended by officers (one bear was destroyed but not by a conservation officer, records show).
Signs warning about bear activity have been posted in numerous areas, including along the Hoy Creek Trail, where a bear has been reported to be following walkers. The Conservation Officer Service has been informed, according to the Hoy/Scott Creek Watershed Society.
When visiting trails during bear season, hikers are advised to travel with a friend, make noise, keep dogs and children close, and not approach any bears they, maintaining a distance of at least 100 m.
