The grizzly that paid a visit to Squamish over the past week will soon find himself back in the wilderness.
Late Sunday (July 20), conservation officers trapped the approximately 600-pound male bear. The bear was scheduled for relocation on Monday (July 21).
Conservation officers have been playing cat and mouse with the bear for the past two weeks. On Thursday (July 17), officers hung warnings at the major trailhead junctions leading into the Mashiter Trail — which runs from the Garibaldi Highlands to Alice Lake Provincial Park. Officials were alerted to comments posted on the Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association’s Facebook page. People noted they spotted what was described as a “blonde” bear on the biking trails.
“We are erring on the side of caution,” WildSafe B.C. coordinator Meg Toom said at the time.
The grizzly bear was also spotted at the Squamish Landfill late last week. Warning signs were posted along the Ray Peters Trail network. Conservation officers were unclear whether it was the same grizzly bear that had been sighted week before. People’s responses to such a sighting are so different, which makes it difficult to verify its position, Toom said.
Grizzly bears are considered a vulnerable population in the Squamish area. There are approximately 59 grizzly bears in the Squamish-Lillooet region, states the Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative — an organization aiming to protect grizzly bear populations.
Grizzlies are not common in Squamish, but they are not surprising either, Toom said. Four years ago, Toom found a grizzly bear footprint in the sand beside the Squamish River. In 2007, a grizzly bear wandered into downtown from the Squamish Estuary. At the time, it was reported that it was the first in living history to venture into the town’s centre. The bear was later relocated.
Conservation officers ask that any sightings be reported to their office. Report such incidents to the Conservation Officer Service 24 hour hotline at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP).
