Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN) Chief Corrina Leween and senior policy advisor Mike Robertson came across an unexpected sight this week while touring wildfire-affected areas south of Burns Lake.
From their helicopter they spotted a black bear eating another bear害羞草研究所檚 carcass on the north shore of Cheslatta Lake.
害羞草研究所淲e all thought they were dead and circled back to investigate,害羞草研究所� described Robertson. 害羞草研究所淲hen the helicopter got closer, we discovered a huge black bear on top of a brown bear.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭he big black bear got up and walked about 10 yards, quickly turned around and in a very aggressive and threatening manner started clicking his teeth,害羞草研究所� he continued. 害羞草研究所淭he bear took a step or two towards us, even though we were 100 feet high in a whirling helicopter.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t sent chills through my bones.害羞草研究所�
Robertson said the bear ran away when the helicopter circled the area again, but that it eventually went back to his meal.
Although Robertson did not see whether the bear actually killed the other, this would not unusual behaviour for bears, according to Sergeant 锟糑evin Nixon with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
害羞草研究所淕rizzly bears for starters will kill a black bear any opportunity they get and they害羞草研究所檒l consume it,害羞草研究所� he told Black Press Media. 害羞草研究所淔or a large male black bear to kill another black bear, especially a younger male, he害羞草研究所檒l go out of his way to do that.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檒l do that for breeding purposes, to remove competition, and once it害羞草研究所檚 dead they害羞草研究所檒l consume it.害羞草研究所�
When asked if bears in the Burns Lake area have been affected by the region害羞草研究所檚 wildfires, Nixon said 害羞草研究所渄efinitely.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淏ears are very territorial, and the fact they have been displaced by the fires means that they have to establish a new territory,害羞草研究所� he explained. 害羞草研究所淎s soon as they have to establish a new territory they have to compete with bears that were already in that territory, and that害羞草研究所檚 when fights are going to occur.害羞草研究所�
Nixon added that this is the time of year when bears are feeding 18 hours a day, trying to get their last-minute calories before they go into hibernation.
害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 only so many food sources available, so they害羞草研究所檙e gonna turn to whatever food sources they can find, and the unfortunate reality in this area is that bears are finding pet food, apple trees and all kinds of different things that are not considered normal bear behaviour.害羞草研究所�
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