In Canada, a bear was spotted in a local urban area, prompting an immediate response from wildlife rescue teams. According to reports, the first officials to arrive at the scene were police officers. The bear had moved into a small forested area and climbed a tall tree, making the rescue effort more challenging. Authorities were trying to safely capture and relocate the bear, keeping in mind the safety of both the animal and the local community.
The bear was initially seen on Ring Road, then again in the 2500 block of Wallace Street. It later made its way to Victoria Avenue and Montreal Street, near Thomson Community School, where it climbed a tree and remained there for a while.
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety, responding to an inquiry from the Leader-Post, confirmed that the bear was reported near the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Montreal Street.
The Regina Police Service (RPS) stated that it received a call at around 4:20 a.m. regarding the bear. Soon after, conservation officers and firefighters arrived at the location. Their primary goal was to capture the bear safely and relocate it to a secure area, considering the safety of the public as well as the bear.
The initial plan was to use chemical immobilization — a standard method in such cases — to sedate the bear and then relocate it outside city limits. However, the situation became more complicated when the bear climbed high into a tall tree, making the process risky.
Officials later confirmed that the bear was a black bear, estimated to be around 2 to 3 years old and weighing approximately 175 pounds. As the team attempted to sedate the bear using tranquilizers, a mishap occurred: the sedated bear lost balance and fell from the tree. The fall caused severe internal injuries.
While such rescue operations usually have a high success rate, unfortunate incidents do happen. In this case, the fall resulted in critical injuries to the bear, and the conservation team was forced to make the difficult decision to euthanize the animal. They concluded it was the most humane option given the extent of the bear’s injuries.
What Officials Said
“There are times where things don’t go as planned. In this instance, upon the bear being chemically immobilized, unfortunately it did fall from the tree through that process and sustained internal injuries,” said McLeod, one of the officers on the scene.
The Bear Was Spotted Earlier by Locals
Regina resident Christopher Wesaquate reported seeing what appeared to be the same bear earlier in the morning, around 3:00 a.m. CST on Monday, while driving home on Ring Road in south Regina.
“It was running towards the University of Regina, so I pulled over and recorded the bear. Then I drove to the U of R and saw the bear walking around the university,” he said.
Conclusion
This unfortunate incident highlights the challenges faced by conservation teams when wild animals wander into populated areas. While their goal is always to protect both humans and animals, unexpected events can lead to tragic outcomes. The story serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human development and wildlife conservation — and the need for continued efforts to protect animals while ensuring public safety.
