A young bear was safely rescued by conservation officers in Oliver, British Columbia, after it was found wandering with a large metal pipe stuck on its head near the Fairview Mountain Golf Course.
The incident came to light when local resident Curtis Pirie spotted the animal moving through an orchard, shortly after seeing reports of the same bear circulating in the community. He and a neighbour initially attempted to remove the pipe themselves but were unable to help the distressed animal, which then climbed a tree.
After several calls from residents over a period of days, officers from the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service arrived from Kelowna and used a tranquilizer to safely sedate the bear. Once immobilized, the animal was carefully brought down from the tree and the pipe was removed.
Officials reported that the yearling bear appeared underweight, though generally in stable condition. There was concern that it may have struggled to feed while the pipe remained stuck on its head for nearly 10 days. After treatment, the bear was relocated back into a forested area away from the community.
Residents described earlier sightings of the bear wandering through vineyards and even approaching structures and vehicles, prompting multiple safety calls. Conservation officers noted the animal had previously evaded capture on at least two occasions before the successful rescue.
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