Black bear sighted in downtown Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A black bear was sighted in downtown Fort St. John earlier in the week. 

According to Ellen Pedersen, Fort St. John’s conservation officer, the bear was seen around 98th Avenue in Fort St. John at 11 p.m. on May 27th. 

Pedersen said it is normal for the bear to be coming out late at night.

“That’s still natural bear behaviour, we are looking at a fairly well-behaved bear at this time and it’s important that we try to keep it that way,” said Pedersen.

“We’re hoping that [the bear will] eventually make his way out of town.” 

Perdersen advises any residents who spot the bear to make it uncomfortable for it in the area. 

“If there is a sighting, yell at the bear … make it aware of your presence to avoid surprise encounters and do not run away from the bear,” said Pedersen.

She also encourages residents to secure their garbage, bird feeders and barbecues in order to not attract the bear. 

“It’s critical to ensure you know the bear doesn’t become food conditioned,” said Pedersen.

Pedersen encourages people to report any bear sightings to the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) 24-hour hotline by calling 1-877-952-7277.

More advice on how to deal with bears and other wildlife can be found on the WildSafeBC website.