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Bear Aware

Kamloops man shares his grizzly attack survival story

"WHEN I WAS HIKING OUT, I KEPT SAYING TO MYSELF: 'DON'T PASS OUT. DON'T PASS OUT.'" KAMLOOPS - Local hunter Ralph Smith planned to get the elk he was tagged for when he took his mid-September hunting trip in Sparwood, B.C. He’d seen grizzly bears before, but he wasn’t expecting the violent scenario he ended...

Bear with two cubs spotted at Kelowna Airport

KELOWNA – The Kelowna Airport sees its share of visitors but nothing like the three spotted there recently. A mother black bear and two cubs were seen three times between the highway and the long term parking lot over the past three weeks, according to airport spokesperson Jenelle Hynes. “There have been no encounters with...

Two Kamloops residents charged for feeding Whistler bear

KAMLOOPS - Two Kamloops residents visiting Whistler have been charged after being caught feeding a bear from their car. The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says the Kamloops residents were observed tossing food out the vehicle window on Callaghan Road in Whistler while a bear ate the food. The person who noticed the incident provided the...

Three bears feasting on garbage shot in Penticton

PENTICTON - Household garbage led to the ultimate demise of a bear sow and its two cubs after the trio became habituated to the easy food source. The female bear and her two cubs were reported on Friday morning in a small wooded area just west of Cherry Lane Mall, east of Parkway Elementary School...

Bear complaints overwhelming Okanagan conservation officers

KAMLOOPS NUMBERS SLOW DOWN AFTER EARLY SPIKE THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Conservation officers in the North and South Okanagan regions are being swamped with bear complaints as the large animals begin to prepare for hibernation. While fall always sees an uptick in bear activity, conservation officer Jim Beck says this year is worse than normal. “It’s crazy...

It’s bear season: how to keep yourself (and your dogs) safe

THOMPSON–OKANAGAN – If you haven't seen a bear in town, you just might soon. Provincial WildSafe B.C. Coordinator Frank Ritcey says the number of bear sightings was down considerably at the start of the season but have steadily climbed. Bears are becoming more visible because of the change in weather and their pre-hibernation activities. “When...

South Okanagan woman’s dog saves her during bear attack

PENTICTON - A South Okanagan woman is recovering from a harrowing bear attack in the Willowbrook area last week. The woman was walking her dog when the bear attacked on Aug. 5. She suffered a badly broken arm, which required surgery, claw scratches to her back, and a cut to her face. Conservation Officer Jim Beck...

Dead bear wrapped in tarp found in Kamloops alley

KAMLOOPS – A dead bear, wrapped in a tarp, was found in a back alley in downtown Kamloops earlier this week. The bear was found Monday, May 25, in an alleyway near First Avenue, between Nicola Street and Battle Street. Stephanie Patsula was walking home when she saw what she describes as 'a corpse…all wrapped...

What you can do to prevent bear conflicts this fall

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Hide your picnic baskets and tuck away your garbage cans, it’s high season for bears as they look to take in about 20,000 calories per day before settling in to hibernate for the winter. WildSafeBC Provincial Coordinator Frank Ritcey says bear sightings in the month of August were more than the four previous...