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Bear takes a fall

A bear found in a tree near the Whitehorse Fish Ladder yesterday was quickly put in its place. The young black bear, discovered around noon, was shot twice with a tranquilizer gun and fell 10 metres to the ground.

A bear found in a tree near the Whitehorse Fish Ladder yesterday was quickly put in its place.

The young black bear, discovered around noon, was shot twice with a tranquilizer gun and fell 10 metres to the ground.

“There were a number of branches there to break the fall,” said senior conservation officer Kris Gustafson.

“These bears are pretty rubbery.”

The tranquilizer acts like a muscle relaxant. According to Gustafson, its chemicals knock the bear out causing it to lose control.

Even with its lack of muscle control, the bear was still able to grip the tree, said Environment spokesperson Nancy Campbell.

“The bear was attached velcro-like to the tree and it just scraped its way down,” she said.

“It was probably more damaging to the tree.”

The bear was tagged and relocated north of Whitehorse.

The only concern with the bear being this close to town is that these bears can turn into problem bears, said Gustafson.

“If people are attracting bears with food and garbage, then the bear gets used to it and keeps coming back,” he said.

“It is a slippery slope because then the bear will eventually just get destroyed.”

Two amorous grizzly bears in Haines Junction have led Environment Yukon to shut down Pine Lake Territorial Campground to prevent human-bear conflict.

Once the bears have finished mating, which is expected to be the middle of next week, the campground will re-open.

Contact Vivian Belik at

vivianb@yukon-news.com