Motherless cub upholds Canadian “customs“

Nov 5, 2020 | 1:39 PM

SMITHERS, B.C. — If it`s an out-of-the-way border crossing in northern B.C., chances are they get more than their share of wildlife encounters. That was the case recently, at the Stewart, B.C. – Hyder, Alaska border crossing.

A young female black bear, with no mother in sight, showed up at the border crossing. The gregarious waif knew exactly where to go to get help.

Orphan bear cub

When Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) posted photos on social media, they prompted a lot of curiosity from the public. People wondered which side of the border the fuzzy, black bruin had originated from.

One commenter said it was likely an American cub trying to flee fall-out from the U.S. election.

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However, another responder disagreed.

“No, it`s definitely a Canadian bear – you can see how polite the cub was to patiently take its turn in the – waiting zone.“

Bear Cub at border crossing waiting zone

In other words, she was maintaining Canadian etiquette customs.

It turns out that staff at the Northern Lights Wildlife Society had been made aware of a small female bear wandering the region without a mother. Their attempts to trap the young cub repeatedly failed.

However, when the cub showed up at the Canadian Border crossing, officers were able to contact the society which sent a volunteer who was finally able to trap the bear. From there, she was transported to the wildlife centre in Smithers.

The little cub was under weight, but is expected to do well at the centre. She will eventually be released back into the wild, away from the border crossing

by Dori Modney