A Ucluelet black bear became trapped inside a vehicle on Friday morning and obliterated the interior before being freed.

Local senior Katharine Fleming told the Westerly News she had gone outside to get her dogs害羞草研究所� leashes and come back into her home when she heard a car horn honking in her driveway. She said her friend suspected someone was trying to break into her vehicle, but when she looked, she realized something much stranger was happening.

害羞草研究所淭he car started rocking, I mean really rocking, and I said, 害羞草研究所楾hat害羞草研究所檚 not a human in there, a human can害羞草研究所檛 do that害羞草研究所� and we realized it was a bear,害羞草研究所� Fleming said. 害羞草研究所淚t was absolutely terrifying and I knew he was desperate to get out.害羞草研究所�

She added that the car害羞草研究所檚 doors were closed but unlocked and it害羞草研究所檚 unclear how the bear got in as there was no damage to the exterior, but the door had closed behind it, trapping it inside.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 smart. He has figured out how to get in, how to open the door,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淭he door was closed and he managed to retract the latch and pull the door open and, when you see the door, there害羞草研究所檚 no marks.害羞草研究所�

Sgt. Kevin Smith of the Ucluelet RCMP confirmed that a police officer responded to the scene and managed to get the bear out.

害羞草研究所淗e looped a rope around the door handle so that he could stand a safe distance away while pulling the rope to open the door,害羞草研究所� Smith told the Westerly. 害羞草研究所淭he bear exited the van and went on its way.害羞草研究所�

Fleming suggested the bear scampered off in a hurry.

害羞草研究所淗e took off,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淗e didn害羞草研究所檛 want to be here any more than we wanted him to be here.害羞草研究所�

She added that there 害羞草研究所渨asn害羞草研究所檛 a single solitary speck of food in our van害羞草研究所� and suspects the bear had likely found food in other vehicles and started thinking of them as food sources.

The situation is now being investigated by the BC Conservation Officer Service and Fleming fears the bear will likely be killed after showing such heavy signs of habituation.

She hopes the incident serves as a strong reminder to both residents and visitors that they must always keep their attractions secured and never feed wildlife.

害羞草研究所淭he thing that is the most important about all of this is that people, tourists and locals, have to be bear aware,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚f we害羞草研究所檙e going to live on the West Coast or visit the West Coast, we have to be aware that this is called the Wild West Coast for a reason. Animals have their rights here and we need to stop encroaching on them or encouraging them just to get that great picture or that great video because we害羞草研究所檙e killing off the very thing that people want to see when they come here.害羞草研究所�

She added that along with raising her anxiety, the incident has also brought a financial hit as the vehicle was not insured due to confusion with her insurance provider.

害羞草研究所淩eally, it害羞草研究所檚 a comedy of errors and we害羞草研究所檙e left with a car that is dismantled inside and no insurance,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 screwed financially, but more important than that, a bear is going to lose his life.害羞草研究所�

andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
Like us on and follow us on

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

READ MORE: