A bear enjoying a feed of crab apples, in bouncing branches above 132nd Avenue, stopped traffic on Monday.
Members of the Maple Ridge Bears group saw posts and pictures in social media, and turned up to make sure the little bear did not come to harm. Founder Susan Zanders said people saw the bear above the road in the morning, and when he was still there in the afternoon, expressed their concerns that he was stuck.
㽶ƵֱThis story could have ended differently, however it has a very happy ending,㽶Ƶֱ said Susan Zanders, one of the founders of the group.
It was started to educate the public about attractants, in response to the shooting of bears in residential neighbourhoods in the spring of 2019.
㽶ƵֱThe bear was happily celebrating a Thanksgiving apple feast while getting ready for hibernation,㽶Ƶֱ said Susan Zanders. 㽶ƵֱHe was munching away, doing what bears normally do and had no interest in anyone.㽶Ƶֱ
However the branch was precariously thin, and the onlookers were concerned he could fall onto the road.
Dan Mikolay from WildsafeBC, Ross Davies from Kanaka Education and Environmental Partnership Society and other community members were soon on the scene. The RCMP came to direct traffic.
㽶ƵֱIt was a really amazing community response, and so many people from the group just turned up to see how they could help,㽶Ƶֱ said Zanders.
㽶ƵֱAnd we saved another bear.㽶Ƶֱ
Traffic backed up and a crowd formed, watching for about half an hour until the bear ambled out of the tree.
Then neighbours who were arborists offered their help to cut the loaded apple tree branches down.
They could see the little bear watching from a distance, said Zanders, and left the apples where he could find them, away from the road.
Maple Ridge bears has a group of volunteer gleaners that will remove for owners.
㽶ƵֱTypically we will glean a fruit tree if an owner needs help and we donate to Critter Care (in Langley) for their 18 orphaned cubs,㽶Ƶֱ said Zanders.
Bears are getting ready for hibernation now and typically eat up to 20,000 calories a day, she explained. It is important that residents keep all attractants inaccessible, including garbage and recycling stored inside.
@NeilCorbett18
ncorbett@mapleridgenews.com
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