A black bear in downtown Canmore was tranquilized Saturday afternoon. RCMP say that at 2:26 p.m., they responded to reports of a small black bear weighing about 100 pounds who was spotted by the Sav-On Foods in downtown Canmore. An RCMP spokesperson said the bear got in an altercation with a mother elk who chased it up a tree, possibly, the RCMP said, after it attacked a baby elk the night before. Fish and Wildlife attended the scene and tranquilized the bear before removing it from the tree. The bear was relocated to an undisclosed location. Fish and Wildlife released a statement on Monday, saying it received and responded to reports of a yearling black bear. “After investigation, fish and wildlife officers found no evidence to suggest that there was a mother to the yearling bear in the immediate area, nor were there any dangerous attractants that may draw in other curious bears, so the area was reopened to the public,” Fish and Wildlife said. In Monday’s release, Fish and Wildlife also offered bear safety advice. “The best way to reduce the likelihood of attracting a bear to your area is to proactively remove any attractants from your property, like unsecured garbage, pet food and fallen fruit and birdseed,” Fish and Wildlife said. “Encounters with dangerous wildlife should be reported to the nearest fish and wildlife office, or to the Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800. “For more information on bear safety, visit alberta.ca/alberta-bearsmart.”
