B.C. family encounters bear 'eating our Doritos' at beachside camp
CTV's Jordan Cunningham has some tips to share after his family encountered a black bear while camping near Shirley, B.C., this past long weekend.
"I knew somewhere in that forest there would be a few bears," said eight-year-old Reese Cunningham.
And while bears might be around, you never expect to actually run into one.
But that was the case on Sunday, when a bear wandered into the Cunningham's beachside camp.
"I saw an enormous black bear and I was alone, so it was really scary," said Reese.
Where was her father, you might ask? He was about 100 metres behind her as the group was returning to camp.
When Jordan, Reese, and son Tommy were returning to camp, Reese went off ahead and then quickly returned.
"I said, 'Dad, there's a black bear. Wait, I might be dreaming,'" said Reese.
But it was no teddy bear's picnic.
"I thought she was lying when she said she might be dreaming," said Tommy. "But no, there's a giant black bear eating our Doritos."
The black bear is shown.Doritos were the only casualty at the camp on Sunday.
Fortunately, Reese did everything right when spotting a bear.
"Don't run and don't scream," said Wild Wise Society president Sam Webb.
"Bears have an instinct to chase. It's a chase like a dog playing chase with a ball," she said.
Webb adds that it's not always necessary to leave a campsite if a bear has come to visit.
"You're never wrong by leaving but if you chose to stay, that wouldn't have been wrong either," she said.
The Cunninghams did decide to leave, but the encounter hasn't turned them off camping just yet.
When Reese was asked if she was scared to go camping again, the eight-year-old responded with a quick "No!"
Next time, however, all snacks will be sealed.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.