A family from British Columbia was enjoying a boating trip on Okanagan Lake last weekend when they noticed a baby bear cub struggling to keep its head above the water. They quickly rescued it and brought it onto their boat.
At first, the Zamniuk family was not overly concerned about the cub, but the situation escalated rapidly.
“Suddenly, his little nose kept dipping under the water, and he was blowing bubbles,” Christina Zamniuk recounted.
“He could hardly paddle anymore.”
Christina mentioned that once they had the cub, affectionately named “Boo Boo,” on board, it was visibly shivering and trembling from the chilly water. The Zamniuks offered the cub some cheese while it soaked up the warmth from the sun.
Reporting it
The family promptly contacted the B.C. Conservation Officer Service (COS) and the B.C. SPCA, who advised them to take the cub to shore and limit any further interaction with it.
“Nobody was really much help,” Zamniuk expressed.
She explained that when they reached the shore in the direction where the cub had been swimming, it was reluctant to leave the boat.
“He wanted to stay with us. So, we gave him a little push, and he splashed into the water, swam to shore, and we saw him dash into the woods.”
Christina Zamniuk says when they found the cub, it kept submerging underwater, struggling to swim. (Submitted by Christina Zamniuk)
However, the COS did not respond to the scene or provide Zamniuk with any information regarding the bear cub’s future.
“I provided them with the address and everything,” she stated. “They didn’t come.”
“They were very firm about us not touching the bear because I guess if they pick up human scent or become too accustomed to people, then they struggle to survive independently.”
Public reminder
The COS confirmed the incident in an email on Sunday, stating that their officers have not received additional reports of an orphan bear cub in the vicinity.
WildSafeBC, a program designed to educate the public on preventing wildlife conflicts, indicated in an email that the outcome was positive for both the bear cub and the family that rescued it.
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A representative from the Central Okanagan branch is urging the public to refrain from interacting with wildlife and to exercise extreme caution around wild animals.
The organization noted that September is a particularly active month for bears, which may lead to more encounters. They also emphasized that if a bear cub is seen, its mother is likely nearby and could act defensively if people are close to her cub.
“Black bears are generally proficient swimmers, and it is unusual for a situation to arise where the animal requires human assistance,” the email stated.
WildSafeBC advised that the COS should always be the first point of contact when an animal is in distress.