Alert issued about ‘active bear’ at Stawamus Chief park

BC Parks has issued an alert about an active bear in the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park.

An adult black bear is active throughout the park, including in the Backside Trail, campground and climbing areas, warns BC Parks.

Notices have been posted in the park, and District of Squamish wildlife coordinator, Meg Toom, is also making people aware about the bear in the area.

Toom said some of the climbers have had their backpacks accessed by the bear, with the bear now associating backpack with food.

The bear has also been in the campground and was able to access a camper’s cooking pots and pans which had been left out overnight.

“The bear was able to lick the pots and pans clean, and it is unfortunate as this is a food reward for the bear and the bear is now associating campsite as a place to find food,” Toom said.

BC Parks is also urging people to secure all attractants in their vehicles. Unsecured attractants may result in evictions and fines.

People are also being asked to never approach or feed a bear, and to report all bear sightings to the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.

Meanwhile, the Sea to Sky Summit Trail has been closed to the public to aid the gondola investigation. Shannon Falls Provincial Park, however, is now open after being closed to the public yesterday.