A large bear in Coquitlam’s busiest park caused some commotion this afternoon, but eventually was tranquilized and taken away by conservation officers.
“It turned out well. We had a bear where bears don’t belong during the day,” said Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart.
“It’s a good end. It’s about a good of end you can hope for.”
The bear was in Lafarge Lake at Coquitlam Town Centre Park before climbing up a tall tree. Conservation officers tranquilized the bear, but it took several attempts before it was immobilized and on the ground.
READ MORE: Wandering Port Coquitlam bear not drunk, just ‘fat and lazy’
Shortly after, the bear was loaded on a vehicle to be assessed at a secure location.
“Not optimal,” said Sgt. Todd Hunter of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, who said the bear may have been stressed due to the large crowd watching.
“We want a quick delivery of the drug, we didn’t have a quick delivery, but in the end, we do have it immobilized. We’re going to get it out of here, and we’re going to secure and assess the condition of the bear.”
There were several youth soccer games going on in the park at the time, and officers warned people that shooting the bear was a possibility if it awoke. Mayor Stewart says it’s another reminder of the need for Coquitlam residents to always be aware of their surroundings – and to keep their distance when they encounter wildlife.
“We know this is a curiosity for people, we want them to understand the urban realities here in the suburbs. We have bears, we have raccoons. We want to respect and value the wildlife around us, but also respect their distances.”