A bear sighting near southwest Calgary’s Oakridge community prompted a resident to warn others on Monday.
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Connie Akbari, who lives in Oakridge, captured photos and video of what appears to be a black bear perched high in a tree.
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Around 7 p.m. Akbari was in the passenger seat while her husband drove along 90th Avenue S.W. travelling west towards Stoney Trail.
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“I just happened to look over to my right . . . and I saw this big black thing in the tree, at the very top of the tree and I realized it was a black bear,” said Akbari.
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The bear was in a wooded area, close to the intersection of 90th Avenue and Southland Drive S.W.
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“I was really surprised, so we pulled over to the far shoulder and had a look,” she said, adding they stayed inside the car as the bear was about 15 metres away from the road.
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“There’s no way I wanted to disturb (the bear) and have (it) come down,” Akbari said.
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She phoned 311, who directed her to Alberta Fish and Wildlife to report the animal’s whereabouts.
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In a Tuesday email, Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services confirmed they received a report about the black bear, and noted it was in a green space known to be frequented by bears.
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“At this time, the bear does not pose a risk to public safety,” said the Fish and Wildlife spokesperson.
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In a post about the bear Akbari hoped to alert others as a precaution for it and anyone out at the nearby off-leash dog park.
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She estimated that the bear was 50 to 100 metres from a nearby off-leash area, which runs parallel to Southland Drive.
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“It’s just more of a precaution for the bear . . . so there’s no human or potential dog interaction,” she said.
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Over the years, Akbari has seen a lot in the area in terms of wildlife — but seeing a bear was a first.
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Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services encourages residents to report any bear sightings or wildlife concerns by calling 1-800-642-3800.