A young bear that was spotted up a tree in Townsend Park has been relocated deeper into the forest.
The bear was found in the west end of the park, near the ball diamonds, late Wednesday afternoon. A conservation officer, the RCMP and the fire department responded to the call.
The bear was shot with a tranquilizer and remained in the tree.
Fire Chief Ian Josephson said the department used their equipment to get up high enough to help the bear down.
“The firefighters raised a ladder and managed to get a rope around the bear,” he said.
It is unusual for the fire department to help out with conservation calls.
“We don’t get that very often,” Josephson said. “We’ll go as part of the team, because we have the ropes and ladders, and that’s how we helped out in this case.”
He said he has heard the bear was relocated up to the Chilliwack Lake area.
“They believe it was probably in the dump and maybe got displaced from its mother,” he added.
The conservation officer has not returned a call to confirm the bear's relocation.