CROWES MILLS, N.S. — A bear is still walking around Colchester County with a trap on its paw, despite efforts to catch it.
The animal was first spotted in Crowes Mills on May 26 and was sighted again during the next two days. On the morning of June 6 a sighting was reported on the Adam McCallum Road, in the Onslow Mountain area.
“On May 28, it had travelled several kilometres from the first sighting, going to the Onslow Mountain Road area,” said Kim George, a regional biologist with the NS Department of Lands and Forestry. “It appears to be a mature bear and seems to be moving fine. From what I saw in the photos, the paw looked clean, but if the trap isn’t removed it could potentially cause infection.”
She noted the bear, whose sex is unknown, appears to be in very good body condition, although it would be in pain. She doesn’t think the trap has been on the paw for long.
A live trap is still set in the area where the bear was first sighted, and a trail camera has been set up and is being monitored regularly.
“If the bear is caught we would do a full assessment to make a determination on the best option,” said George. “That could mean removing the trap and releasing the animal back into the wild. We would want to make the best decision for the animal, so if there’s severe damage it could mean euthanasia.”
Traps such as the one on the bear cannot legally be set this time of year. George said trappers are required to identify their equipment with tags, but sometimes they don’t do so.
She encourages people to remove things that might attract bears to their property, as this is the busiest time of year for bear complaints. Bears will often come close to houses to eat from composters and bird feeders.
Anyone spotting the bear with the trap on its paw should call 1-800-565-2224
