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
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.