A juvenile black bear captured Monday in the southwestern Airdrie area has been successfully relocated, officials confirmed Tuesday.
Mike Clayment, director of the Fish and Wildlife District, said the decision to move his 1-year-old was in line with a response guide developed by state biologists. I said yes.
"In this case, to the best of our knowledge, we have determined that there is no information to suggest that (the bear) exhibits food-conditioned signs, conditioning to unnatural food sources. Or habituation or over-familiarity with people, so we decided at that point that they were candidates for relocation,” says Rayment. "And today we moved to an area northwest of Calgary."
Read More: In the afternoon the day after the move in Airdrie The bear was sedated
Authorities estimated the bear weighed about 100 pounds and weighed about a year and a half.
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"Perhaps you recently got kicked by your mom and somehow ended up in Airdrie."
Bear calls are not uncommon in Calgary, particularly around Weaselhead Flats, Glenmore Reservoir and Fish Creek State Park, Rayment said. But he said bears rarely visit Airdrie.
"If they have enough space to roam and are not exhibiting any behavior that would cause us to be concerned, then generally this is not much of a concern for us. If we step into a more dense urban area like that, it's a path into an urban environment with a lot of people around us, and at that point it changes our reactions," he told Global News.
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Fish and wildlife officials said unprotected trash and fruit-laden trees could attract more bears to cities.
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An Airdrie resident who encountered a black bear did the right thing, he said.
``Cities create big problems. Please, it will work in a certain way," says Rayment.
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Officials advise visitors to carry bear spray when outdoors where bears are known to roam. Also, if you encounter a wild bear, we advise you to follow these tips to avoid conflict:
- Don't run away. please calm down. Stay with your group and keep the kids close. Judge the situation
- Look around. When a bear sees cubs or dead animals, it wants to protect them. If you see either of them, stay away from them
- Prepare to use bear spray
- Retreat. Please leave the way you came. Do not actively stare at the bear and keep an eye on it
- Find a place to hide. When backing up, look for a safe place such as a car or building
- Speak to the bear in a soft, low voice. Let the bear know you are human and not prey
- Use a noise maker and be prepared to defend yourself with bear spray
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