Yellowknife, a city evacuated due to wildfire risks, invaded by black bears in search of food.
A black bear chases a man into a hotel. (Video: Global News)
A city in Canada has been overrun by black bears searching for food in the trash left behind by residents who evacuated due to nearby wildfires. On August 16, residents of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories left their homes as wildfires approached, coming within 15 kilometers of the city. Approximately 95% of the city’s 20,000 residents evacuated, leaving only essential staff behind, reported Live Science on September 1.
About a week after the evacuation of Yellowknife, those who remained discovered a large number of black bears (Ursus americanus) wandering the streets. Since then, sightings of black bears have steadily increased, though there is no official count of how many bears are residing in the city. In a video shared by BBC News, black bears can be seen rummaging through residential yards, walking along streets, foraging in dumpsters, and even chasing a man.
The bears likely came to the city because many residents left their garbage cans full, providing plenty of leftover food for the bears, according to James Williams, a wildlife officer in the Northwest Territories who is patrolling the city for black bears. Additionally, the wildfires may have driven the black bears from their natural habitats toward Yellowknife.
Black bears searching for food in the city.
The number of bears spotted in Yellowknife typically increases at this time of year. Earlier in August, two bears were shot dead by authorities in Yellowknife due to safety threats to residents after one attempted to break into a home. Around the same time last year, residents were advised to stay away from trails around the city due to several bears displaying a lack of fear of humans.
Wildfires can alter how wildlife officers handle bear situations. Typically, authorities use bear spray and rubber bullets to deter black bears from town. When those methods fail, they capture the bears and relocate them far from the town. However, wildfires make it more challenging to release bears back into the wild. Consequently, there is a likelihood that some bears may be euthanized.
“Our top priority is to protect the lives and property of the people as well as the city of Yellowknife. Sometimes, we have to euthanize some bears,” Williams shared.
