Bear wandering around YK golf club safely relocated

A black bear seen roaming around the Yellowknife Golf Club earlier this week has been relocated with the help of wildlife officers

“The bear knocked over a trash can on hole 13 and 18. It had gotten into the dumpster out here in the parking lot behind the club house,” said Carter Legge, who works at the golf club. “It made some mess for us to clean up.”

Shannon Graf, a spokesperson for the NWT Department of Environment and Climate Change, said after receiving a report about the bear on Monday, officers inspected the area and worked with golf course staff to set a live bear trap. The bear was relocated on Thursday.

The department said it has been receiving daily reports of bear sightings throughout the North Slave since last week including in Łutselkʼe, Behchokǫ̀, Yellowknife, Whatì and Dettah.

“Remember we live in bear country. Please have respect for wildlife and never approach or feed animals, as they can become habituated. Ensure that your garbage is bear-proofed or only take it out the day of collection,” Graf advised.

Seven bears ‘dispatched’ in North Slave

The department said this year, a lot of bears are of “juvenile age,” meaning they are learning to fend for themselves and can be attracted toward communities to meet their seasonal food needs.

While renewable resource officers attempt to deter bears within communities, the department said in some cases a bear “can lose its fear of humans and avoid trapping efforts.”

“In these cases, public safety must take top priority and dispatching an animal is only used as a last resort,” Graf said.

So far this season, the department said seven bears have had to be dispatched in the North Slave region.

If you spot a bear in a community, the department recommends contacting the wildlife emergency number for the region.

Emily Blake contributed reporting.