Bear attack victim warns others to be careful

Residents in Burnaby have their photos taken with a tranquilized bear on Sept. 13, 2012 (CTV)

A recent bear attack victim is telling others to be careful following yesterday’s bear sighting and subsequent mobbing of a bear in Burnaby.

The wayward bear became a major attraction as it waddled through parts of central Burnaby yesterday, and was eventually tranquilized and relocated by police.

Residents followed the animal down the street snapping photos, and even were allowed to take pictures while touching the beast as it lay tranquilized.

Now, bear-attack victim Nicole Rammell said people should learn from her experience and steer clear of bears, no matter how harmless they may seem.

Last month Rammell was attacked by a grizzly bear in Alaska while she was jogging down a seemingly safe path.

“There was a grizzly bear this close to my face,” she said while demonstrating how she startled the bear.

“It chased me and I fell a little way down the hill and that’s when it bit me.”

Rammell suffered a bite on the buttocks during the attack and has a warning for others.

“They’re wild animals, so I don’t think you can predict how they will act when they’re scared,” she said.

Conservation officer Jack Trudgian said the key to staying safe from bears is to be sure not to attract them.

Trudgian said securing garbage is a must, and if a bear does drop by, don’t go near it.

Yesterday’s offender was relocated to a place near Harrison Lake on the outskirts of the Lower Mainland.

Trudgian said the bear’s been placed in an area where high mountain passes will make it harder for the animal to return to Burnaby.

With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Bhinder Sajan