A bear spotted in the Canadian woods. (Black Press Media file photo)

A bear spotted in the Canadian woods. (Black Press Media file photo)

Bears spotted near Saanich lake spooked by police, wandered off

Bear, cub not seen over weekend but police ask residents to be on alert

  • May. 26, 2020 12:00 a.m.

A mother bear and her cub spotted in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park on Friday are believed to have since left the area.

Const. Markus Anastasiades, public information officer for the Saanich Police Department, said police didn’t receive any more calls about bears in the area over the weekend but he emphasized that anyone who spots the bear and her cub should call the Saanich police non-emergency line at 250-475-4321. He added anyone visiting Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park should be on alert and should walk in groups and keep dogs on leashes.

READ ALSO: Saanich police warns public after bear and cub spotted in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park

On May 22, the Saanich Police Department received reports of a bear walking along Beaver Lake Road towards the park around noon. When police and pound officers arrived, they spotted the bear wandering in the area with a cub in tow.

“Luckily, they got spooked” when authorities arrived, Anastasiades explained, adding that in terms of public safety, police were happy to see the little family of bears wander towards a more rural area.

The bears were last seen heading northwest towards Townsend Drive on Friday afternoon.

READ ALSO: Wild Wise expands into West Shore, reminds residents to be bear aware

Saanich officers asked the public to avoid Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park until further notice and asked those already in the park to leave.

This was the second bear sighting of the week in Saanich – a bear was seen in the 5100-block of Interurban Road on May 21. Anastasiades pointed out that rural Saanich residents are aware that they share the area with wildlife and have been good about bear-proofing their properties so that the large animals simply pass through the area.

READ ALSO: Saanich police warn of bear sighting on Interurban Road


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