There’s a new guy in town, and he has some Fort Langley residents bearing caution.
A large black bear has been spotted wondering down side streets and sifting through garbage cans along Glover Road on two occasions by resident Ken Baber.
Baber, who has lived on Mackie Street for 32 years, says he has never seen a bear in Fort Langley before.
He was waxing his car in his driveway around 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 6 when he saw the bear strolling down his street about 10 to 15 feet away from him.
“I don’t think there was a threat from him, but I was glad he was looking the other way anyways,” Baber said. “I jumped up with my eyeballs a little on the big side.”
He describes the bear as a little taller than a garbage can, about four feet tall to the top of his back.
Baber phoned the police and was told a conservation officer was already on the way. But by the time police showed up a few minutes later, the bear had already “made his escape.”
Then just a few days later on Thursday, July 11, Baber spotted the creature again.
“He didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry. He was meandering around down the street,” he said.
This time, after calling the police, Baber decided to grab his camera and see where the bear was heading. He spotted him on Glover Road outside Simpson Manor going through some garbage cans.
Although police told him the bear was quite timid, and Baber himself doesn’t feel threatened, he urges residents and visitors to be careful.
“What’s the definition of aggressive?” he asked. “When he’s walking around with a three-year-old in his mouth?”
“We never realized just how close to nature we live.”