A small orphaned black bear cub has caught the attention of people living in Horsefly east of Williams Lake.
Brian Englund, who has lived in the community for 38 years, told the Tribune Friday residents began noticing the lone cub in the vicinity about two weeks ago.
“There’s been quite a bit of interest lately to capture the little female and get it off to Northern Lights Wildlife Society in Telkwa for rehab,” he said.
While he has not seen the cub himself, Englund said a friend saw it on Friday, Dec. 7.
“Then it seemed to disappear and was gone for a while and then all of a sudden yesterday, it showed up again around 3 and 4 o’clock by the bridge. It ate some grass and then wandered away again,” Englund said. “It’s somewhere along the river here going back and forth. People have been seeing it off and on but didn’t really know it was by itself.”
Englund said there have been a few people working together to try to find it.
“I spent quite a bit of time out walking into the bush, but I did not know where it went,” Englund said, noting he has been carrying his camera with him as well.
“It’s been hanging around the river, finding the odd salmon carcass to feed on.”
The cub isn’t crying, but is quite small, the size of a small dog, he added.
“It must have been born really late. We have no snow here now. It’s been so warm it’s all melted.”
Angelika Landen, founder of Northern Lights with her husband Peter, told the Tribune Friday afternoon she has been contacted by Horsefly residents about the cub.
Landen was just in Williams Lake in October to work with the Conservation Officer Service in the rescue of another bear cub.
Read more: Injured B.C. bear cub rescued Thanksgiving weekend
“I sent the Conservation Officer Service (COS) an e-mail saying we would be happy to come and set a trap or arrange transportation,” Landen said. “We are ready to go and are waiting for permission to help.”
Englund’s wife Suzanne, in a Facebook post noted a file had been started with the Conservation Officer Service and encouraged anyone who sees the cub to contact her or Brian.
Williams Lake resident Laurie Stapelton who saw the post and contacted the Tribune said she hoped something can be done.
“I think it is up to us to help this living creature as much as we can to try and give it a chance,” Stapleton said.
Englund said everyone’s watching and hoping for a good conclusion and that the cub gets rescued.
“At first I don’t think everyone really understood that it’s really just a tiny little thing. I sure hope it gets found again.”
A call has gone into the COS in Williams Lake for comment.
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