Conservation officers say an enormous, sleepy bear that had a Port Coquitlam neighbourhood on high alert Thursday has likely returned to the wilderness it came from.
An officer told CTV News that the black bear that forced a lockdown of a nearby school Thursday disappeared overnight from the blackberry bushes it was last seen sleeping in.
The bear was likely just thirsty and needed a rest after running around the neighbourhood, according to officials.
Neighbours told CTV News the animal had been wandering from yard to yard for days. Conservation officers were called to the area on Wednesday but decided to give the animal time to leave on its own rather than tranquilize and relocate it.
Officers said they don't usually tranquilize bears on the ground in case they charge -- and this bear was too fat to climb anything.
"He is so obese he can't even climb a tree," said Jack Trudgian. "We don't want to tranquilize a bear on the ground, we prefet to tranquilize in a tree as it's safer for us and the public. But that bear, he's so fat he can't even get up in a tree."
A theory that the bear may have been intoxicated off fermented apples doesn't hold much weight, according to Trudgian.
Trudgian said he believes the bear headed back to the Coquitlam River, where it likely came from. The animal is not believed to be familiar with humans.
With files from CTV Vancouver's Nafeesa Karim
