A bear-banger meant to send problem animals running, brought a black bear closer to a Mission-area resident last week.
Lac La Biche RCMP and Fish and Wildlife officials were called to a residence along the Mission Road on Thursday, August 27, after getting a call about an aggressive bear. Police say a property owner was confronted by a black bear in his yard. When the resident tried to scare the bear away by deploying a bear banger device that makes a loud gunshot noise near the animal, the bear charged towards him. The man was able to avoid the bear, which then ran into the nearby bush.
Fish and Wildlife officers and RCMP patrolled the area searching the bear. A bear trap was put into the area, but the bear was not caught.
RCMP remind all residents to follow 'bear-aware' guidelines when it comes to confrontations with wildlife.