Bear encounter in Whistler Village caught on camera

The BC Conservation Officer Service is warning Whistler residents and visitors not to feed or approach black bears after a recent encounter was captured on video.

In a series of clips posted to social media on Monday, a bear can be seen walking along the pedestrian walkway outside the Roots store in Whistler Village. Several people can be seen nearby, and most appear to be ignoring the animal.

At one point, in one of the videos, a man holding his phone as if he is recording approaches the bear, coming within a few feet.

The bear begins to attack him, but does not attack, and the man responds by growling at the bear.

In another video in the series, you can hear someone clapping loudly and yelling at the bear in an attempt to get it to move.

In a statement to CTV News, the BCCOS said it was “aware of several black bear sightings and videos in Whistler Village, including one video reported as recently as Monday,” but did not know exactly when the series of clips posted on social media circulated, had disappeared. included.

The agency said it euthanized a tagged black bear on Sunday, describing that animal as having a history of “conflict behavior” in the village.

However, it says the bear officers killed “is not the same bear seen in the video.”

When asked about the videos, the Whistler RCMP detachment confirmed it had responded to the village to assist conservationists after receiving “multiple calls” about bear sightings Sunday afternoon.

Mounties referred further questions to the BCCOS.

“We understand that residents and visitors are accustomed to seeing black bears, but we ask people to never feed or approach bears,” the agency said in a statement.

“Bear feeding is an illegal activity that endangers the safety of people and bears.”

The BCCOS said it is “working collaboratively” with the RCMP, the municipality and local residents and businesses to ensure people secure “attractive materials” such as trash, pet food and birdseed.

“The COS recommends that people take precautions in the event of wildlife encounters, including being aware of their surroundings, giving bears plenty of space, leashed pets and traveling in groups,” the agency said.

Bear conflicts or reports of feeding of bears or other dangerous wildlife should be reported to the Report All Poachers and Polluters Hotline at 1-877-953-3834, the BCCOS said.