Update: The BC Conservation Officer Service confirmed Tuesday that a bear cub whose mother was killed by a car in Sooke will be relocated to the North Island Wildlife Recovery Assocation.
Original story: Conservation officers have tracked and tranquilized a black bear cub near Sooke after its mother was hit and killed by a vehicle.
The cub was first spotted with its mother in the area of 5800-block of Sooke Road on Saturday.
After the sow was struck and killed, reports came streaming in to BC Conservation Officer Peter Pauwels about a lone cub in the area.
“It was continually crying and just hanging around houses and didn’t seem to be able to fend for itself,” Pauwels said.
He tracked down the cub to an apple tree, where it was tranquilized and placed in a bear trap.
The cub may now be rehabilitated at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association, where officials will determine whether it can be released back into the wild.
Pauwels reminded residents living in bear country to minimize danger during a month in which human-bear encounters are more likely to occur.
“It’s really busy for bears right now. Septembers are always busy, this one is probably busier than most,” he said. “Most of the berries have dried up, so they’re now moving down out of the hills looking for other sources of food, namely apple trees, fruit trees, they’re getting into chickens and livestock.”
Pauwels recommend picking extra fruit off of trees or taking down fruit trees that aren’t being used, while those with chickens are urged to get an electric fence.
Garbage should only be placed outside on the day of pickup, he said.
