VANCOUVER -- A B.C. liquor store is getting a lot of attention for an unusual customer that dropped in earlier this week.
"He’s called 'the spirit bear' because he wandered down the spirits section of the store," said Claudio Brunetti, owner of Last Call Liquor Store in Revelstoke.
He explained that a large black bear cruised into the store on Monday night, much to the shock of the customer from Italy inside.
"He was shocked and in disbelief. He'd never seen a bear before," Brunetti said.
The long-time owner who said he’s lived in the area all his life knew what to do.
Brunetti said he called out to the bear to get its attention, and it immediately turned around and walked outside.
"I’ve had lots of bears walk down the street but never stroll inside for a beer or anything like that," he joked.
It’s unclear if the bear was shopping for a White Claw or Polar Ice.
But a local group that aims to mitigate conflicts between humans and animals doesn't believe the incident is a laughing matter.
Maggie Spizzirri, community co-ordinator with Revelstoke Bear Aware, says the same bear may have broken into a truck on Monday. The organization says the bear was also spotted walking around the downtown area Wednesday.
"The concerning thing is having a bear that is habituated. That's when we can get into human-wildlife conflict," Spizzirri said.
Conservation officers in the area have set up traps and are reminding people to seal their garbage cans to avoid situations like this in the future.
