Two bear cubs were rescued from a dumpster by conservation officers in Sooke.
Two black bear cubs were rescued Monday after getting stuck in a dumpster at a recycling facility in Sooke.
Sgt. Scott Norris of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) said he and another officer were called to the facility at around 9:30 a.m.
Norris said they weren’t sure how the bears got into the dumpster, which did not have any food in it, but added that it is possible they smelled some food, climbed up on the edge and fell in. The facility is near a ravine.
The mother was calmly waiting for her cubs about 50 yards (46 metres) away when Norris and another conservation officer arrived.
South Island CO’s rescued two bear cubs trapped in a dumpster at a materials recycling facility today in #sooke . The cubs were ear tagged and reunited with their mother who was patiently watching from afar. CO’s are reminding people that bears are still out looking for food pic.twitter.com/rP1SmXbEva
— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) December 17, 2018
“We haven’t had any conflict history with those two bears,” Norris said.
The bears were tranquillized then Norris waited outside the dumpster while another conservation officer went in. The bears were lifted out of the dumpster using a special blanket and tow ropes. The cub’s ears were tagged then taken out to the neighbouring property where their mother was waiting.
“Hopefully they will follow the ravine back out of town and stay out of the way,” Norris said.
He also said the incident is a good reminder that bears are still looking for food and it’s important that residents store garbage in a secure building until collection day or put their trash in bear-resistant containers. All bins should be tightly closed and recycling items should be washed before they are put in a bin. Bins that contain garbage or recycling should be cleaned.
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