Family of bears enters Umbrella Café causing ‘minimal damage’

Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 9:03 p.m. to include information from the conservation officer managing the investigation.

An incident involving a mother bear and two cubs is under investigation after the family entered the Umbrella Café early this morning. 

The bears got into the building through an air intake at approximately 2:10 a.m., Sun Peaks Resort LLP’s director of brand and communications Christina Antoniak said. 

“The team has resecured the opening and has closed the facility until further notice,” she told SPIN via email. “At the time, the facility only contained secured, packaged goods.”

The bears caused “minimal damage” to the cafe, Antoniak added.

“From our internal review, there were no obvious attractants [or] garbage in the vicinity of the building and the end of day clean up and shut down was performed at a high standard,” she said. “Buildings were locked and secured, the entry point was an air intake vent that was forcefully opened.”

Sun Peaks Bear Aware has been made aware of the situation, but was unable to provide any further information on the incident.

“Sun Peaks Bear Aware is waiting for an official investigation to be concluded prior to making a statement,” Kim Grunling, president of the organization said.

Sun Peaks Bear Aware has urged residents and visitors to secure attractants after a separate incident when a mother black bear entered an unsecured residence whilst searching for food on Sept. 3. This prompted multiple days of lobbying the provincial government in support of sparing the cubs, which were unconfirmed to have entered the residence. 

“Under current provincial public safety regulations, the entry of a mother bear into a human dwelling triggers a Category 1 classification of the entire bear family, which automatically requires B.C. Conservation Officer Services to capture and destroy the mother and her cubs,” Sun Peaks Bear Aware shared in a press release following the Sept. 3 incident.

Although not confirmed, based on the specific and consistent negative learned behaviours of the bears, as well as information from witnesses, “it is believed to be the one family unit of bears in this conflict doing these types of acts,” conservation officer Sergeant Jared Connatty told SPIN. 

“We’re well aware that there’s multiple bears in the area, and we’re taking precautions to avoid catching bears that are unrelated and have taken measures to try and avoid that.”

To avoid catching other bears, Connatty said his team is meticulous about where the equipment is set and the length of time it stays there. 

With concerns for public safety around the mature adult female suspected in both cases, it is likely that she will be euthanized, Connatty said. 

“It’s not an acceptable act for bears to be seeking out human food inside residences and structures,” he said. “Most bear conflicts are not actioned in this way.”

The Wildlife Branch of the Province of British Columbia will provide direction on what to do in regards to the two cubs. If captured, there will be a health assessment, and a decision will be made to decide if the cubs will be moved to a rearing facility.

“Our primary mandate and goal is to ensure public safety,” Connatty said. 

Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality shared a notice on Sept. 3 reminding residents of the Solid Waste and Control of Wildlife Attractant Bylaw, which prohibits the improper storage and disposal of any wildlife attractants. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to $500.

Residents must remove or properly secure anything that could attract wildlife to their properties. This includes garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other potential attractants such as paint, motor oil and fuel containers. 

Sheds, ski lockers and similar areas should not be considered bear-proof storage. All bear attractants should be kept in properly secured, bear-resistant containers or facilities. Homeowners are encouraged to check that doors and accessible windows are securely closed and locked whenever unattended. Food, garbage and other attractants should never be left inside a vehicle. 

Bears are entering Hyperphagia and consume up to 20,000 calories a day to build fat reserves for winter hibernation.

“If a bear enters your yard scare them away from a safe distance, yell at them and make as much noise as possible, bang pots and pans, use air horns as well but always try to include a human voice,” Sun Peaks Bear Aware posted in a reminder on Facebook.

To contact Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality bylaw services to report unsecured attractants, email bylaw@sunpeaksmunicipality.ca or call 778-257-2275.