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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - A powerful blast of water proved to be the incentive a young bear needed to leave the yard of the Fort Providence Health Centre after a three-hour standoff.

The eventful night for the bear started on Aug. 15 when it was spotted under the centre's steps and ramp. Edward Landry, a renewable resources officer, said he was not sure what brought the bear into the fenced-in yard.

It took three blasts from a water monitor on the top of a fire truck to finally convince a young bear to leave the Fort Providence Health Centre's yard. - photo courtesy of Christopher Carson

The bear might have been foraging along the nearby river bank and wandered in, said Landry who arrived on the scene around 9:30 p.m. after being alerted by members of the local RCMP detachment.

Although public safety was the first concern, a decision was made to avoid having to put down the bear if possible, Landry said. The bear was only about a year old and it was in a difficult spot to reach, he said.

Landry and two members of the RCMP started by using lights and vehicle sirens to try and direct the bear out of the yard and back over the riverbank.

"It was very difficult," he said.

The large number of people who had gathered to watch the event compounded the problem. There were at least 10 vehicles parked near the church flashing the bear with their lights. There were also many bystanders, including children, near the scene, Landry said.

"We had to do more control of people than the bear," he said.

The RCMP drove their vehicle into the Health Centre's yard to try and direct the bear towards the river but instead it climbed a nearby tree. Bear bangers had no effect on the bear and an hour into the operation it was getting dark out.

"He was probably scared to death," said Landry about the bear.

The solution to the problem came in an unlikely form when members of Fort Providence's volunteer fire department offered to use their new fire engine for the job. Using the water monitor on top of the truck, which is like a water cannon, the firefighters hit the bear with two blasts of high-pressure water.

The bear scrambled out of the tree and under the steps again where another blast of water convinced it to leave. The bear found an opening in the chain link fence, crawled underneath and headed over the riverbank. Landry and the RCMP patrolled the bank to ensure the bear wouldn't return.

"It was a good, successful thing," Landry said.

Although the RCMP and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources often work together to solve wildlife problems this was the first time the fire department has assisted. Landry said it's good to know the three agencies can work together and try different tactics.

"It really helped out with that water," said Landry.

Landry is reminding residents to use self-restraint when a bear incident is underway.

"If a wildlife officer is dealing with a bear problem stay far back," he said.

Although the event may seem exciting, bystanders can make the situation more dangerous. Children, in particular, should be kept away from the scene, Landry said.