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A B.C. family was boating on Okanagan Lake last weekend when they spotted a baby bear cub struggling to keep its head above water and pulled it onto their boat.
Initially, the Zamniuk family wasn’t worried about the cub, but the situation quickly changed.
“All of a sudden, his little nose kept going under the water and he was blowing little bubbles,” explained Christina Zamniuk.
“He could barely paddle anymore.”
She said after her family got the cub, who they named “Boo Boo,” on board, it was visibly shivering and shaking from the cold water. The Zamniuks fed the cub some cheese while it warmed up in the sun.
Reporting it
The family immediately called the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) and the B.C. SPCA, who directed them to bring the cub to shore and avoid interacting with it more than necessary.
“Nobody was really much help,” said Zamniuk.
Zamniuk explained that once they reached shore in the direction the cub had been swimming, it didn’t want to leave the boat.
“He wanted to stay with us. So, we gave him a little shove and he plopped in the water, he swam to shore and we saw him run off into the woods.”
Christina Zamniuk says when they found the cub, it kept submerging underwater, struggling to swim. (Submitted by Christina Zamniuk)
But the COS didn’t come to the scene or provide Zamniuk with any clarity on what could happen to the bear cub next.
“I gave him the address and everything,” she said. “They didn’t go.”
“They were just so adamant about us not touching the bear because I guess if you have your human scent on them or they get too used to people, then they can’t survive on their own.”
Public reminder
CBC News asked the COS for a statement on the incident Saturday evening and did not hear back before publication.
But WildSafeBC, an educational program aimed at preventing conflict with wildlife, said in an email that the outcome was good for both the cub and the people who rescued it.
A spokesperson from the Central Okanagan branch is reminding the public to avoid contact with wildlife and be extremely cautious around wild animals.
The organization said September is a very active time for bears, so encounters may occur more often. It added that if a bear cub is spotted, its mother is likely close by and could become defensive toward people near her cub.
“Black bears are usually good swimmers, and this case is rare that the animal would need human intervention,” the email read.
WildSafeBC said the COS should always be the first call if an animal is in distress.