WESTLOCK — A black bear seen several times in the Town of Westlock is still on the loose and both Town of Westlock and Fish and Wildlife Alberta officials are asking residents to remain on the lookout and keep their distance if they see it.
Westlock RCMP were called around 7:15 p.m. Oct. 29 following the first sighting of the bear and after speaking with Fish and Wildlife Alberta, RCMP officers scared the young animal into the nearby wooded area.
“There was a black bear seen at the Pembina school bus yard,” said Westlock RCMP Staff Sgt. Jeff Sehn. “We also contacted the town’s (communications) coordinator to spread the word in the community that there was a bear in the area.”
The animal was seen again on Oct. 31 and the town sent out another notification warning residents.
“The black bear cub is still on the loose within the Town of Westlock. It was sighted near Farm Credit Canada. RCMP and Fish and Wildlife want everyone to stay on the lookout. If you spot the cub, please give it some space and leave it alone,” read the notice, which was sent out in the early afternoon Oct. 31.
Three Fish and Wildlife officers from Barrhead came to Westlock around noon and spent more than an hour searching the area off Highway 44 north near the town limits, for the bear. They brought a bear trap and darts to try and capture the animal and eventually re-locate it.
“I did have a live trap but without knowing where this guy is hanging out, it’s pretty tough to set a trap,” said Mike Ewald, provincial problem wildlife specialist with Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services.
“We also had chemical immobilization drugs and with a small bear like this, if we get in the right spot, we should be able to chase him up a tree and then chemically immobilize him and put him in a trap,” said Ewald, noting they would re-locate him at least 100 kilometres from town. “If he keeps getting into town, that’ll be the best option for him.”
Ewald said they were hoping to catch the bear and remove him from town before Halloween night, but noted the risk to public safety was “pretty low”.
“With all the extra activity and the noise and everything else, that bear’s probably going to stay away,” he said, adding that they will return to Westlock should they receive more calls about the bear. “We will definitely be responding right away.”
If Westlock residents see the bear or they have any concerns, they are asked to call Fish and Wildlife Alberta’s Report A Poacher number at 1-800-642-3800. [email protected]
