A black bear was spotted in northwest Edmonton as experts say it was likely searching for food before winter. Residents are urged to remove attractants.
Edmonton Bear Spotted Roaming Streets Before Winter
A late-night visitor gave one northwest Edmonton resident quite the surprise this week.
A black bear was caught wandering along a residential sidewalk in the Cumberland neighbourhood early Tuesday. Now, wildlife experts say the bear was likely looking for one thing: food.
Bear caught on camera in Edmonton
Ken Turner noticed the unusual visitor on his home security camera at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The bear was walking near 138th Street and 149th Avenue. Turner shared the video with CBC News and also contacted police.
His concern was understandable. The area sits close to walking paths and a school.
However, officials say there have been no reports of aggressive behaviour or property damage.
Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services confirmed that Edmonton police received several bear reports between midnight and 1:30 a.m.
Since then, no further sightings have been reported.
Why did the bear enter the city?
According to University of Alberta ecologist Mark Boyce, seeing a black bear in Edmonton is unusual but not shocking.
The city sits close to excellent bear habitat. In addition, wildlife corridors can give bears easy routes into urban areas.
The North Saskatchewan River Valley is one such route. Park systems near the Sturgeon River can also provide natural pathways.
So, bears can move through parts of Edmonton without being noticed.
Boyce says Alberta has an estimated 40,000 black bears. Therefore, some will occasionally wander into urban areas.
The bear was likely hungry
There is also a simple reason for the timing of this visit.
Fall is a major feeding period for bears.
Before winter arrives, bears enter a phase called hyperphagia. During this time, they eat as much as possible and try to build up fat reserves.
As a result, bears may become more active and less selective about food.
They may also take greater interest in food sources around homes.
“Winter is coming,” Boyce explained, noting that bears need to gain as much weight as possible before the cold season.
Therefore, a bear that normally stays in natural areas may follow its nose into an Edmonton neighbourhood.
Residents urged to remove bear attractants
Experts say residents can help keep bears away by removing easy sources of food.
That means securing garbage and cleaning up fallen fruit. Bird feeders should also be taken down or kept out of reach.
People with beehives should take extra care as well. Honey can be a powerful attractant.
Residents should also watch for other food sources, including roadkill and anything else that could draw a hungry bear into the area.
Experts say prevention matters
John Clarke, a retired wildlife officer with the Canadian Bear Safety Authority, says food often explains why bears enter populated areas.
As natural food becomes harder to find, bears may follow rivers, green spaces and other corridors into neighbourhoods.
That is why prevention matters.
If a bear repeatedly finds food around people, it can start to associate homes with an easy meal. Over time, that behaviour can create serious problems.
In extreme cases, authorities may have to destroy a bear that becomes habituated to people and develops dangerous behaviour.
What should Edmonton residents do?
For now, experts say people should give the bear space and avoid approaching it.
Instead, residents should remove anything that could attract the animal.
They should also report new sightings to Fish and Wildlife officials.
The key message is simple: don’t feed the bear, don’t approach it and don’t give it a reason to stay.
For this Edmonton bear, the visit may have been little more than a late-night food run before winter.
Still, its appearance is a timely reminder that Edmonton’s wild neighbours can sometimes cross into the city.
