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Photos: Apparent mama bear shows cubs how to climb a tree in Coquitlam

There were no food sources in the area, said Eagle Mountain resident Casi McEvoy, but the latest sighting is a reminder to keep bins and attractants secure.
Tri-City News Staff

Young bear cubs, like human kids, are anxious to find places to play, learn and explore this summer.

Last Thursday, July 11, residents of Coquitlam's Eagle Mountain area had front row seats to an apparent mother bear's lesson for two cubs — tree climbing 101.

Casi McEvoy told the Tri-City News she and her family saw the three bruins, at around 1:30 p.m. that afternoon, attempt many times to scale a big tree in a property's front yard.

She said bears are frequent visitors to Eagle Mountain once or twice a week. And like this recent sighting, not all are looking for food sources.

"We live in their neighbourhood [...] For the most part, it seems they are walking to get from 'A' to 'B,' as they often follow the same path," McEvoy explained.

"Our community is very good with promoting Bear Awareness, giving them space, not leaving food [or] garbage out, clearing away fruit trees. We appreciate the thrill of seeing bears but we also do not want to see them too often."

The mama bear and cubs were also seen checking out other lawns, bushes, stairs and even a fish pond before safely crossing the road to the tree.

"The adult bear stood on its hind legs up against the tree," said McEvoy.

"It looked like the adult was showing the cubs what to do. Then the cubs take their turn standing up and reaching around the tree while the adult was sniffing around in the area."

McEvoy reiterated the friendly sight was amazing to see for her neighbours, but it should serve as a reminder to the general public to let bears mind their own business.

As well, to avoid conflict, she encourages homeowners to make sure food sources are secure so they don't get "too comfortable around humans."

Summer bear sightings

RCMP were called to Belcarra, also last Thursday, to rescue a bear stuck in an unlocked Toyota Yaris.

Officers broke a window to set the bear free, the Coquitlam detachment explained in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

That was the second trapped bear call local Mounties responded to after one was found in a Port Coquitlam garage.

According to B.C.'s environment ministry, the Conservation Officer Service has fielded 404 bear reports this year compared to 734 calls last year between January and July.

WildSafeBC, a foundation dedicated to bear awareness in the province, encourages residents to consider the following tips around bears:

  • Keep your garbage in or secured until the day of collection. Garbage is the number one attractant cited in reports to the provincial hotline
  • Manage your fruit trees
    • Don’t let windfalls accumulate, and pick fruit as it ripens
    • If you don’t want the fruit, consider...
      • Accessing a fruit gleaning group in your community
      • Washing the blossoms off in the spring so the fruit doesn’t set
      • Replacing the tree with a non-fruit bearing variety
  • Don’t put out bird feeders when bears are active
    • A kilo of bird seed has approximately 8,000 calories and is a great reward for a hungry bear
  • Keep your compost working properly with lots of brown materials and a regular schedule of turning
  • If you have livestock or backyard chickens use a properly installed and maintained electric fence to keep bears and livestock apart

The public is also being reminded to check all of your surroundings when out in the backcountry as bears are known to hang out in trees.

- with a file from Janis Cleugh, Tri-City News