Bear spotted in Saint-Lazare

In 2007, a black bear sighting in Saint-Lazare had wildlife game wardens trying to tranquilize and capture the animal. (Kristina Edson)

Publié le 6 Juillet 2010

Publié le 16 Septembre 2010

Kristina Edson

Not a first for region

Saint-Lazare residents are being asked to be cautious but not panic after a bear was spotted walking through the town on July 3.

According to municipal communications agent Vicky Legault, at least one resident got a surprise when a bear wandered across his lawn last weekend near chemin Sainte-Angélique and route de la Cité-des-Jeunes.

Clément Guérin told French television station LCN that the animal, estimated to weigh close to 175 pounds, came right up to his back porch as he and his girlfriend sat having coffee.

The bear, that is believed to be about one and a half years old, took off with a bird feeder and came back the next day, supposedly for more food.

Officers with Quebec’s Natural Resources and Wildlife Agency searched the area during the weekend and again Monday morning but did not locate the animal.

They additionally set up a cage near where the bear was spotted, baiting it with cake.

Legault said wildlife agents will keep an eye on the area but feel “there is no immediate danger, the bear was probably just passing through and looking for food.”

Bears are not known to live in the town, Legault noted.

Town officials say it is not unusual to spot wildlife around the 67 square-kilometre rural town, that can share space with moose, deer, coyotes, foxes, raccoons and bears.

Nevertheless, anyone spotting a bear is advised to keep their distance and to not approach, fed or frighten the animal. Bears will generally continue on their way if passage is not disrupted.

Repeat experience This is not the first time a bear has been seen in Saint-Lazare. Police and wildlife agents canvassed the territory for several days in June 2007, after a black bear was sighted by at least a half-a-dozen people. Attempting to help capture the animal at the time, residents alerted game wardens to the bear’s location from house windows, balconies and cars as the bear crisscrossed residential properties. Natural Resources and Wildlife agency wardens unsuccessfully attempted to tranquilize and capture the animal. At the time, experts at the Ecomuseum educational wildlife park and zoo, located in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, said the best way to discourage bears from venturing too close to homes is to keep trash out of reach and clean up things such as barbeque leftovers and drippings. The Ecomuseum, which is home to four black bears, noted that bears tend to lose 40 percent of their body weight while in hibernation. They start eating in earnest in May, fattening up on a diet of meat, fish, and fruits as summer progresses. When encountering a bear that has not noticed a human presence, quietly back away from the animal, a museum employee advised. “If it does see you, make as much noise as you can,” said Caroline Bourque. “Basically you want to appear as threatening as you can so the bear will leave you alone.” Though they are aggressive animals, bears generally only attack when protecting their young, when they feel cornered, or when food is scarce, Bourque explained. To report a bear sighting, call SOS Braconnage at 1 800 463-2191.

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