The Bear Connoisseur

[Ghostsof1915]

My bodyguard keeps an eye out for me.

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

What @Coconuts said.  

https://forum.canucks.com/topic/409229-ive-always-made-jokes-about-how-vintage-is-actually-a-robot/

[Coconuts]

32 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

What @Coconuts said.  

https://forum.canucks.com/topic/409229-ive-always-made-jokes-about-how-vintage-is-actually-a-robot/

 

Wait a minute..

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

 

Quote

B.C. man gets 30 days in jail and $11K fine for killing black bear and cub

By Simon Little  Global News

Posted November 6, 2023 7:45 pm

 Updated November 7, 2023 9:22 am

File photo. A black bear eats by the side of a road in Whistler, B.C. on Oct. 26, 2023. Global News

 

A Tofino, B.C., man has been handed an $11,000 fine and will spend 30 days in jail for illegally killing a black bear and her cub.

 

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said Ryan Millar was also served a 20-year hunting and weapons ban at his sentencing in Tofino Provincial Court on Monday for killing wildlife outside an open season and for killing a black bear under the age of two.

 

According to the BC COS, Millar saw the bears in a tree outside his property in 2021. He then used a recurve bow to shoot them out of the tree, before killing them on the ground with a crossbow.

 

Millar later tried to hide the carcasses, the Conservation Officer Service said.

 

“No one should take it upon themselves to needlessly destroy wildlife. We ask people to call us if they have a concern. It’s not lawful to take matters into your own hands,” BC COS Sgt. Dan Eichstadter, said in a Facebook post.

 

“We’d also like to thank the witnesses who immediately reported their concerns to authorities and initiated this investigation.”

 

The majority of the $11,000 fine will be directed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund.

The Conservation Officer Service said it hoped the hefty penalty will serve as a deterrent to others.

 

https://globalnews.ca/news/10075208/tofino-man-bear-kill-penalty/

 

$11k and a 30-day jail sentence is awfully light for this kind of behaviour.  This sentence boils down to "kill a bear, pay 55-hundred bucks, spend two weeks in the slammer, you feel shame, and then you get free - kill two, and double the sentence".  What did the cub ever do to him?  What did the older bear do to him?  NOTHING, except existing.

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

Decade-high number of black bears killed by B.C. conservation officers in first 9 months of year, data shows

Expert says food and habitat loss due to wildfires, drought playing role in driving bears into urban areas

CBC News · Posted: Nov 08, 2023 5:00 AM PST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Recently released statistics show 460 black bears were killed by B.C. conservation officers over the first nine months of the year. (Robson Fletcher/CBC)

 

Newly released data shows a decade-high number of black bears have been killed by conservation officers in British Columbia in 2023 so far due to conflict with humans.

 

B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) statistics show its officers killed 460 black bears in the first nine months of this year, during which it received 21,000 reports from British Columbians about black bear conflicts.

 

Both numbers are the highest recorded for that particular timespan since 2011, when the BCCOS first started releasing bear-related statistics.

 

Experts and residents say it underlines an urgent need to remove attractants as bears continue to wander into communities.

 

 

 

The figures have been released at the tail end of a fall that has seen a notable increase in black bear behaviour in some urban areas, while there have also been several reports of grizzlies moving into city limits. 

 

The number of reported black bear interactions spiked in August, the data shows, with almost 6,000 calls to BCCOS that led to the service killing 151 of the animals.

 

"It's been wild," said conservation officer Alicia Buchanan, who took CBC's The National on a recent ride-along.

 

 

 

She says the area of Chilliwack alone — a Fraser Valley municipality around 90 kilometres east of Vancouver — has had 400 calls so far this year, double what it would normally expect.

 

"We've had numerous, numerous calls a day, all times of the day, all days of the week," Buchanan said. 

Pre-hibernation hunger pangs

 

Experts say bears are most hungry in late summer and fall as they try to fatten up before winter hibernation.

 

One scientist says the unavailability of bears' traditional foods — due to the effects of wildfires, smoke and long-lasting drought — may explain a growing need to look to urban areas for food.

 

"The [death] numbers are high. I think they've particularly peaked in some areas in August," said conservation ecologist Cole Burton, who teaches at the University of British Columbia.

 

A black bear looks through the fence at the Greater Vancouver Zoo in Aldergrove, B.C., in August 2019. UBC professor Cole Burton says the big animals are losing their traditional food sources due to climate change. (Maggie MacPherson/CBC)

 

"To me, [that] is consistent with the idea that some of these sort of late summer foods — like berries — are not available."

 

For Burton, the effect of human-caused climate change on the province's bears is undeniable.

 

"There is little doubt that climate change is having big effects on ecosystems — in terms of food, natural food availability, whether that's from the berries or salmon," he said. 

 

"Some of these extreme events like the droughts, the fires, the flooding, these kinds of things are definitely impacting wildlife." 

Urban attractants

Corey Hardeman, who says she saw a bear in her Prince George, B.C., backyard almost every day this summer — including one that was shot soon after by conservation officers — agrees that wildfire and drought have played a role in the bears' behaviour.

 

"I don't think the bears really want to be in town. It's not a safe place for them," said Hardeman, an artist in the city around 500 kilometres north of Vancouver. "But if this is where the food is, this is where they're going to be."

 

She says food sources like fruit trees and accessible garbage are attracting hungry bears who may have been affected by habitat loss.

 

A black bear is seen in Corey Hardeman's Prince George, B.C., yard in September. (Submitted by Corey Hardeman)

 

"I feel like there was so much unpicked fruit in this town and some of the garbage — so much just lack of awareness and lack of care.

 

"What ended up happening is that bears just paid with their lives left, right and centre all summer long."

 

BCCOS says any bear accustomed to human food is usually not a candidate for relocation.

 

"Putting down any bear is a last resort for conservation officers. However, public safety is always our highest priority," a spokesperson said in a statement.

 

"I can't think of a worse day in my career than [one] when you have to remove bears," said conservation officer Buchanan.

 

"We hate it, and we understand the public hates it."

Keep food sources protected

Olivia Lemke, a community co-ordinator for WildSafeBC in Kamloops, says people and communities have to do their part to keep bears safe.

 

"I would for sure suggest harvesting the fruit as soon as it is ripe," she suggested to owners of ornamental fruit-bearing trees. 

 

Lemke also suggested that fruit-tree owners pressure wash the tree's blossoms during springtime to reduce the number of fruit produced that year.

 

Olivia Lemke, a community co-ordinator for WildSafeBC in Kamloops, says bears coming back to human environments to forage for food can lead to dangerous conflicts. (CBC)

 

"The goal is that when bears are passing through the natural corridors that we have around here, like the Rivers Trail in Kamloops, they're going to use that trail and hopefully not find any food rewards on anyone's property," she said.

 

In addition to having bear-resistant bins, Lemke also suggested that homeowners keep their food-waste bins stored inside between collection days, so as to not attract animals.

 

She said bears are very smart creatures that often make "food maps" so they can rely on the same source of food over and over again.

 

"So, addressing the root cause — when we're putting away what is attracting animals into our community … that's what's really going to be the effective strategy, rather than relocation."

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-black-bear-safety-1.7020555

 

And just in case the graphs don't show:

 

graph 1

 

graph 2

 

[4petesake]

 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

Instagram's 'Mr. Adventure' accused of illegally killing bears in Yukon

Tristan James Hamm accused of providing misleading information to obtain a Yukon resident hunting licence

Cheryl Kawaja · CBC News · Posted: Nov 22, 2023 7:40 AM PST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

Tristan James Hamm, 32, goes by "Mr. Adventure" on Instagram, describing himself as an outdoor connoisseur, adventure athlete and an entrepreneur. Hamm is accused of illegally killing two Yukon black bears and a grizzly. (Instagram)

 

 

An outdoor social media influencer with millions of followers is accused of lying to obtain a Yukon hunting licence, going on a hunting spree and illegally killing several bears over a single week, according to court documents.  

 

Tristan James Hamm, 32, who goes by "Mr. Adventure" on Instagram, describes himself as an outdoor connoisseur, animal lover, adventure athlete and entrepreneur. 

 

Hamm has over two million followers on Instagram, with photos of him rock climbing, hiking, boxing and riding horseback, though his account became private Wednesday morning.

 

He's now facing 19 charges including both territorial and federal offences, accused of killing two Yukon black bears and a grizzly.  

 

Court documents allege Hamm provided false or misleading information to obtain a Yukon resident hunting licence. He's charged with illegally killing a black bear on Bove Island, not far from Carcross on May 17. Hamm is accused of killing a black bear later that month on May 19,  at Dry Creek, in western Yukon. Then on May 21, court documents say he killed a grizzly bear near Kluane Lake.

 

Hamm is accused of illegally killing a black bear on Bove Island on May 17, killing a black bear on May 19, at Dry Creek, then on May 21, court documents say he killed a grizzly bear near Kluane Lake. (CBC News)

 

Hamm is also facing charges related to exporting remains of two black bears and a grizzly outside the country this past summer. 

 

All 19 of the charges have not been proven in court. Hamm is not in custody and the case will come before the Yukon territorial court in January. 

 

CBC reached out to Hamm for comment but did not hear back. CBC also asked Hamm's lawyer if the accused is in Whitehorse and the lawyer said he is not at liberty to say.

 

Sue Greetham of Whitehorse is the president of the advocacy group Grizzly Bear Protection Yukon. (Cheryl Kawaja/CBC)

 

Hearing about the charges, wildlife advocate Sue Greetham told CBC she's outraged. 

 

"I just have a sinking feeling in my stomach, my heart just about breaks and I get goosebumps all over me, it's just the saddest thing," she said.  

 

Greetham is the president of  Grizzly Bear Protection Yukon, an advocacy group calling for more protection of bears. She says she opposes trophy hunting and hopes for stronger regulation around legal hunting.

 

As for illegal hunting, Greetham says anyone found guilty of illegal hunting should be made an example — a warning to others. 

 

"I want it to be a significant message sent. I think the fines should be raised, I think there should be jail terms for such egregious criminal activity regarding wildlife, I just don't understand it."

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/hamm-instagram-influencer-wildlife-charges-yukon-bears-1.7035889

 

Just want to pull an excerpt from the article:

Quote

Tristan James Hamm, 32, who goes by "Mr. Adventure" on Instagram, describes himself as an outdoor connoisseur, animal lover, adventure athlete and entrepreneur. 

 

I hope the next bear he encounters goes "connoisseur" mode and tears him to shreds to bring vengeance for its fallen cousins. 

[Canadian_Kanga]

Bear!

 

Bear bottom....!

 

Edited November 23, 2023 by Canadian_Kanga

[Canadian_Kanga]

Sup...

 

 

Edited November 23, 2023 by Canadian_Kanga

[Colonel D]

 

 

Everyone get in here

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

7 hours ago, Colonial Dee said:

 

 

Everyone get in here

 

Be careful, my friend - you might upset the ccp'ers and their 50cent wolf "diplomat"s... 

[4petesake]

On 11/22/2023 at 1:59 PM, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/hamm-instagram-influencer-wildlife-charges-yukon-bears-1.7035889

 

Just want to pull an excerpt from the article:

 

I hope the next bear he encounters goes "connoisseur" mode and tears him to shreds to bring vengeance for its fallen cousins. 

 

Let’s hope he gets a judge like this one in Torino.

 

‘Sometimes a fine is not enough’ says judge who sent guide to jail for bear killings.

 

 

https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/sometimes-a-fine-is-not-enough-says-judge-who-sent-guide-to-jail-for-bear-killings-7881845

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

`Apex predators’: Pemberton. B.C., residents calling for better grizzly management

By Roisin Cullen - PIQUE NEWSMAGAZINE  The Canadian Press

Posted December 10, 2023 11:26 am

 

 

 

Conservation officers in Whistler have caught a grizzly that has been seen around town, including on school fields. Cassidy Mosconi reports – Oct 26, 2023

 

Bear experts and concerned Pemberton locals are calling for the creation of a designated grizzly bear management specialist position in the Sea to Sky corridor.

 

The call comes as families in Pemberton Meadows say they are living in fear of a nearby grizzly and her cubs after children in the area have reportedly come face to face with the bear while playing outside.

 

At a Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board meeting on Nov. 22, the board considered a small batch of letters addressed to provincial Environment Minister George Heyman, eventually deciding to refer the concerns to staff and liaise with the RCMP about public safety issues and future steps.

 

In the letters, two Pemberton residents noted an “evolving societal view” towards grizzly bears in B.C. has led to positive co-existence efforts and applauded the work non-governmental organizations have done to educate the public and help locals.

 

But residents of Whistler, Pemberton, Birken and D’Arcy have had their daily lives altered by the presence of grizzly bears over the past three years, they continued.

 

“While Sea to Sky residents are generally (but not unanimously) in favour of grizzly bear recovery, we must point out that co-existence is costly, nerve-wracking and potentially dangerous,” the letters read. “We should not be expected to shoulder the full burdens of co-existence, which include crop losses, livestock degradations and the potential threat to our family’s safety.”

 

The locals insisted that if the province wants to see grizzly bears on the landscape, it should do more to help people affected by co-existence stumbling blocks.

 

Area C director Russell Mack said the province needs to take action during the bears’ hibernation period. He pointed out a grizzly bear was frequenting his backyard at the time of the meeting.

 

“Something serious is going to happen,” he said. “These are apex predators. They are not pets as people are making them out to be. Somebody is going to walk into one at the wrong time.”

 

While local conservation officers have done their best to deal with ongoing issues, they are experiencing serious staff shortages and have to cover a “huge area of responsibility,” the letter-writers noted, adding the province’s approach appears to lack direction.

 

“The response… has also been inconsistent, which in our view, may reflect a lack of clear provincial objectives for grizzly bear recovery and co-existence,” they said. “We require a proactive approach that supports those navigating the complexities of coexistence, rather than reacting to situations as they arise.”

 

The residents asked the province to hire a dedicated grizzly bear specialist to start in the corridor in the spring of 2024.

 

A letter from grizzly bear experts Lana M. Ciarniello, Bruce McLellan and Michelle McLellan noted some bears are spending “considerable time” in areas where people live, including Pemberton Meadows, Whistler, Birken and D’Arcy.

 

“The number of grizzly bears, in some, but certainly not all, populations in the south Coastal Mountains of British Columbia are increasing,” they wrote. “In particular, populations to the north of Anderson Lake, northwest of Pemberton, and west of Whistler have been growing at about three per cent a year for the past few decades.”

 

The experts noted the populations south of Anderson Lake and south east of Pemberton and Whistler are “very small, highly inbred, and barely hanging on.”

 

“These bears are needed to gradually and naturally augment the adjacent small and struggling populations,” the scientists said. “But people living in the valleys are not accustomed to having grizzly bears living amongst them; many are highly concerned and need help.”

 

The group added the Sea to Sky corridor can learn from other parts of the world that have dealt with similar problems, noting people have learned how to coexist with grizzly bears in Rocky Mountain National Park, northern Montana and around Yellowstone National Park.

 

“In these areas, experts on localized bear management are employed to educate and help people secure or remove attractants, aversively condition bears (rubber or bean-bag bullets, trained dogs, or bear capture) that are pushing boundaries, and remove, by capturing or euthanizing, bears that have crossed the line of human safety,” they wrote.

 

Given the recent issues surrounding grizzlies in the corridor, the recovery is now “clearly at the stage when at least one dedicated, on-site bear management expert is needed,” they concluded.

https://globalnews.ca/news/10160723/pemberton-b-c-residents-calling-for-better-grizzly-management/

Edited December 11, 2023 by 6of1_halfdozenofother

[Coconuts]

The Washington Capitals may or may not be Bear connoisseurs 

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

Bear investigates Port Coquitlam Christmas decoration

 

 

Bear investigates Christmas decoration outside Port Coquitlam home

 

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Doorbell camera footage outside a Port Coquitlam woman's home shows a bear investigate an inflatable snowman Christmas decoration.

   

By CityNews Staff

Posted December 14, 2023 2:24 pm.

Last Updated December 14, 2023 2:25 pm.

 

It’s not uncommon to catch people stopping to enjoy their neighbours’ Christmas decorations, and it appears the same seems to be true for wildlife.

 

Port Coquitlam’s Lexi Verano has shared video of a bear taking an interest in the inflatable snowman she has propped up outside her front door.

 

Footage from a doorbell camera shows the bear walking up to the snowman and pawing at it. The bear sits down as it continues to swipe at the inflatable, and at one point nibbles at the snowman’s hand.

 

It doesn’t take long for the bruin to lose interest and walk away.

 

The video was taken on Tuesday and shared to social media.

 

It’s not uncommon for bears to be seen this close to homes in the Tri-Cities — with a multiple sightings reported throughout the year.

 

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2023/12/14/port-coquitlam-bear-snowman-decoration/

 

I wonder if one will take a swipe at an imitation reindeer...?

[Bob Long]

I got hit on by a bear once. I was flattered and scared at the same time.

[4petesake]

 

[Gurn]

On 12/14/2023 at 5:57 PM, Bob Long said:

I got hit on by a bear once. I was flattered and scared at the same time.

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

9 hours ago, 4petesake said:

 

 

Channeling some Ken Dryden 

[Bob Long]

4 hours ago, Gurn said:

 

It's like you were there 

[Gurn]

57 minutes ago, Bob Long said:

 

It's like you were there 

One of my favourite tv episodes-ever.

Everything was done right, imo.

lighting

music

set design

acting

Supposedly there is a 2 hr version of this episode that had the director in tears.

Emmy winner 

[Canuck You]

Joe Rogan would be very proud of this thread!

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

As hungry bears feast in B.C. towns, some people are taking a 'no snitching' stance

Officials say it is important to report all aggressive or 'conflict' bears

David P. Ball · CBC News · Posted: Sep 10, 2023 7:00 AM PDT | Last Updated: September 10

Experts say the best thing people can do to protect bears from being killed is not to attract them in the first place — through securing trash, removing bird and pet food, harvesting fruit and berries and cleaning barbecues. (vladhad/Shutterstock)

 

Prince George is seeing an extreme number of black bears — even for this time of year when they must fatten up for winter.

 

But with more sightings have come more complaints and, consequently, more bears killed by conservation officers. 

 

That's causing some residents to ask if they should call authorities at all, even though officials say it is important to report all aggressive or "conflict" bears.

 

The northern city saw a "marked increase" in bear reports this past month, according to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS). 

 

August saw 2,241 complaints about bears, leading to 36 bears being killed, the agency told CBC News.

 

By comparison, not a single bear was killed in Prince George in August 2022, BCCOS said.

 

In just the first week of September, there were 160 calls in the city and two bears killed.

One of those was in Corey Hardeman's neighbourhood in the north end.

 

"There's been a bear in our yard almost every day," the painter and educator told CBC News. "There are bears right in the middle of town ... I've never seen anything like this."

A black bear is seen in Corey Hardeman's Prince George, B.C., yard this week. (Submitted by Corey Hardeman)

 

Because one of Hardeman's neighbours had unpicked apples, there's been a steady stream of hungry bears. On Sept. 1, she said, a conservation officer tranquillized a black bear in a tree between their yards.

 

"The bear fell out of the tree, ran through my backyard into the neighbour's on the other side, blundering around," Hardeman recalled, "and then we heard the shot."

 

She said seeing a healthy, young bear killed was "pretty upsetting."

A risk to public safety

Experts say the best thing people can do to protect bears from being killed is not to attract them in the first place.

 

That means securing trash until garbage day, removing bird and pet food, harvesting all fruit and berries, and cleaning barbecues.

Black bears are opportunistic eaters. People are urged to secure or store their garbage in a way that does not attract them. (Austin Schoonderbeek)

 

But BCCOS urged people who see any aggressive bear behaviour to contact them, because the animal can become a danger to the public.

 

"To ensure public safety, this has resulted in a high number of bears having to be put down," the agency said.

 

Once bears become both used to human food and unafraid of people, they can't be rehabilitated or relocated, the agency explained, "making the risk to public safety simply too great."

'Everyone I know leaves them alone'

But a growing number of British Columbians are choosing not to report bears they see, and leaving them alone if they aren't posing a threat.

 

Hardeman has effectively adopted a "no-snitching" policy.

 

"I have great respect for Conservation Officers," she said. "I don't fault people for calling [BCCOS] … but I've never called a Conservation Officer and I have difficulty imagining a situation in which I would.

 

"Everyone I know leaves them alone."

 

She and her friends instead rely on word-of-mouth to warn each other to bring pets and children inside.

 

"In my neighborhood, we don't say 'Hi' to each other anymore," she joked. "We just say, 'Did you see that bear in the driveway around the corner? Just be careful!"

Some have speculated that a lack of berries due to drought is driving bears to seek food in cities. (Wesley Mitchell)

 

People learning to co-exist with the animals is happening across B.C.

 

Some towns have Facebook groups where bear sightings are frequently reported — and people being called out for bad bear behaviour.

 

"This is something that we've noticed for a while and have been aware of here," said Maggie Spizzirri, community co-ordinator of Revelstoke Bear Aware Society. 

 

"I don't know if it would say there's a culture of no snitching … there's definitely a culture of not wanting the bears to get killed."

 

This week, the small Kootenay city in the Interior, about 197 kilometres northeast of Kelowna, has also seen a spike in bear sightings.

 

But in 2016, after 26 bears were killed in town, the community rallied — with more teaching on how to be "bear smart," Spizzirri said, as well as a fruit-gleaning program to collect unused attractants which are then donated to people in need.

 

Some of the fruit was even fermented into a popular local brandy, with the proceeds raising money for bear awareness.

 

On Saturday, her organization hosted a public event downtown as part of the efforts.

Helping both bears, humans

Protecting bears' wider landscape — keeping forests and watersheds healthy — is also important to keeping bears healthy, said UBC Okanagan associate biology professor Adam Ford, Canada research chair in wildlife restoration ecology. 

 

"Certainly I have heard of people being reluctant to even report — let alone call the conservation officers to help them with a bear — I've heard that across this province," he said.

 

But conservation officers take those actions to protect public safety … because there's a legitimate threat that that bear could harm somebody. "

 

Simply letting food-habituated bears roam the streets eating non-natural food may just "kick the can further down the road," he cautioned.

 

"Take action on your own backyard, help your neighbours better co-exist with species like bears, and take care of the landscape in a better way," he said.

 

"That'll help both bears and humans."

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bears-northern-bc-towns-prince-george-1.6961658

[Cerridwen]

With temps of +10 and not a flake of snow to be seen... the bears are back and about again. The birdfeeders had gone back up as there hadn't been a sighting in the neighbourhood for several weeks but two of the big. fat, furry dudes dropped by last night... one climbed onto the roof of the garden shed but the feeders are on a pole much higher than he could reach so he buggered off back over the fence. Ursa Numbah Two came over the fence and wound his paw in the rope used to raise and lower the feeders for filling...gave it a good yank and brought it down. So he met the CO2 propulsion from a BB gun and was gone, pronto. Poor things are confused with the no snow and warm temperatures but they need to remember that Cerridwen's yard is not their dinner stop!

 

(The BB's-in-the-well-padded-furry-butt was sanctioned by a CO... though the ears are tender enough to remember the sting as a deterrent.

[6of1_halfdozenofother]

Quote

B.C. couple evict black bear after it attempts to den under their home

Biologist says it's uncommon, but there are recorded cases of bears denning below homes

Joel Ballard · CBC News · Posted: Jan 03, 2024 7:00 AM PST | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

Crystal Weaver and her husband discovered a bear living underneath their Duncan, B.C., home. (Submitted by Crystal Weaver)

 

A Vancouver Island couple say they were shocked to learn that a black bear set up a den underneath their home.

 

Crystal Weaver and her family live on a Duncan, B.C., property near a river that she calls a wildlife corridor.

 

For the last two weeks, her dog had been "absolutely neurotic," barking and running around the yard, she said. On Dec. 28, they heard some noise coming from under the house.

 

"We thought maybe some raccoons were having a bit of a party down there," Weaver said.

 

The next morning, her husband went under the deck to investigate and came face to face with a black bear.

 

"I've never seen him move so fast," said Weaver, adding that her husband jumped back and quickly scurried out from under the home.

 

In a reversal of the Goldilocks fairy tale, the black bear found the Weavers' home was just right for napping through the winter, pushing itself to the back of the crawlspace, directly beneath their bedroom.

 

WATCH | Family discovers black bear under their home:

 

B.C. homeowners discover bear living under their home

 

22 hours ago

Duration0:33

Homeowners in Duncan on Vancouver Island were surprised to discover a bear had made itself a den beneath their home.

Video blows up on TikTok

Weaver contacted the B.C. Conservation Officer Service and an officer scared the bear off the property.

 

She shared a video of the bear under her home on her TikTok account and was surprised when it went viral, amassing more than 4.2 million views as of Tuesday.

 

"It's weird," said Weaver of the response.

 

"I just thought it was kind of cool and wanted to share it with the 50 people who follow me."

Biologist says it could indicate a lack of dens

While rare, there have been recorded cases of bears denning under homes, says Helen Davis, a wildlife biologist with Artemis Wildlife Consultants, which is. based in Duncan, B.C.

 

"It's unfortunate that it hasn't found a natural cavity to den in this winter," Davis said.

 

She says black bears hibernate through the winter when food sources are scarce, and seek out natural cavities to stay safe, warm, and dry.

 

Davis says male bears will den for about four months, while female bears will den for up to six months, during which time they will give birth to cubs and raise them.

 

She says bears often den in hollow old-growth trees.

 

It's hard to say definitively whether there is a lack of habitat on Vancouver Island, she says, but old growth is sparse on southern Vancouver Island due to logging.

 

"It's possible that there are a lack of dens, certainly on Vancouver Island," she said.

Who to call if a bear moves in

Davis says it's important not to feed bears, as they can become habituated to humans, which could result in the animal posing a risk to people and being euthanized. She reminds people to keep their distance from bears.

 

Meanwhile, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service says homeowners can avoid bears taking up residence under their homes by ensuring there are no access points and all skirting is secure.

 

If a bear does try to sleep through the winter, rent-free, under a home, homeowners are asked to contact the service's human-wildlife conflicts hotline.

 

"Bears can cause damage under homes such as pushing on gas/water pipes, chewing on joists, and dragging garbage under houses which in turns attracts other pests," the service said in a statement.

 

Davis, on the other hand, says the bear would be a welcomed guest.

 

"It would be my life highlight if I had one under my deck, but I know not everyone is as pleased with the idea," she said with a laugh.

 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/black-bear-den-1.7073053