Black bear spotted at Christy Park in Terrace

A black bear was spotted at Christy Park in Terrace around 8:00 a.m. on Aug. 7.

Sergeant Tracy Walbauer of the Terrace Conservation officer service said an officer was dispatched, but did not find the bear. He said the bear was not small, likely a sub-adult or adult, and could be the same bear that has been spotted on the Bench recently.

“I believe it’s the same bear that we’re having some sightings on up above on the Bench, just outside of the green space, so nothing happened to it,” he said.

“There’s always a couple of bears running around in there.”

The Conservation Officer Service asked the City to post a notice that a bear was in the area at the trail north of Christy Park. Walbauer said that bear has not been observed eating garbage or otherwise getting into trouble, but it has been spotted on a deck.

“It came up on a lady’s deck but there was nothing on the deck for it to eat, but when they come up on the deck like that they obviously have done that before and gotten a reward, that’s why they keep looking,” he said.

The City of Terrace asked citizens to be bear aware in a Facebook post, noting that all of the city and mountain trails have had bear sightings in the past few weeks.

Also on Aug. 7, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine posted a news bulletin to its website reminding people to be vigilant with their garbage, recyclables, compost and other bear attractants. The regional district encourages people to call 1-877-952-7277 if they are having trouble with bears.

“There’s so many bears around this year,” said Walbauer.

“We think we get it figured out and get them patterned a bit but there are so many bears around that there could be half a dozen up there, a lot of bears are good and you never see them.”

READ MORE: Mother grizzly bear with two cubs spotted on Grunchy’s Beach trail near Terrace