Popular Belcarra beach closed due to bear in the area
White Pine Beach was closed Sunday morning
A popular beach in the Belcarra area has been closed due to a bear in the area.
White Pine Beach was off limits to the public as of around 8 a.m. PT Sunday.
'A bit bolder'
Metro Vancouver posted the advisory on its website, along with bear safety tips.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it has received several reports about the bear, which it says has been getting close to people and into unattended food on the beach
"Every time they get a food reward they get a bit bolder and a bit bolder, so that's most likely what's happened here," said conservation officer Eric Tyukodi.
Tyukodi said there are no confirmed reports of the bear being aggressive but a trap has been set for it.
There were no sightings on Sunday. Tyukodi says the service wants to capture the bear and move it out of the area.
Zak Edmonds and his friend were turned away from the beach after they had planned to do a hike in the area on Sunday.
"It's totally understandable," he said. "That's the sort of stuff you tend to hear about off in the wilderness, but apparently this bear just won't leave."
The Conservation Officers Service is asking people not to bring any food into the area and keep dogs on leashes.
Belcarra is a village northwest of Port Moody, directly across from the Deep Cove area of North Vancouver.