Bear tranquilized, lifted from tree by firetruck in Abbotsford B.C.
Conservation officer says calls about bears increasing as animals come out of hibernation
It took police, firefighters and conservation officers, but a bear rambling around Abbotsford B.C. was safely removed Saturday to be relocated to a more wild space.
"We'll be taking him up, way, way into the woods and doing a live release," said Acting Sgt. Don Stahl with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
Following the saga with the three to four year old male black bear weighing up to 250 pounds or 113 kilograms, Stahl asked people in Abbotsford to reduce attractants for the animals such as garbage and bird feeders.
"We're really asking for people's help to secure the garbage because garbage kills bears and a fed bear is a dead bear," he said.
Stahl said the bear was first reported Friday night around Glenn Mountain. Local police officers were able to block it in a ravine. Conservation officers then came in and set a trap for the animal.
"But he didn't go in the trap," said Stahl.
On Saturday the bear was reported around the Abbotsford Recreation Centre. Police responded again and were able to get the bear up into a tree.
It was then tranquilized before firefighters used a ladder truck to haul the bear down.
Stahl says there has been an increase in bear sightings in Abbotsford recently as the animals come out of hibernation.
