SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - About five minutes after the Terry Fox Run had begun Sunday afternoon, organizers of the event received a call from the RCMP telling them a bear had been seen close to the run course.

The RCMP blocked off several areas during the course of the bear chase. An member of the RCMP is seen laying road cones on the corner of 57th Street and 51A Avenue. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

Following groans of frustration, volunteers - with help from the RCMP and municipal enforcement - were fortunately able to re-route the course away from the Frame Lake Trail and up to Franklin Avenue without delaying the participants.

"Bylaw (Municipal Enforcement) and the RCMP acted pretty quickly, which allowed the run to continue without too much interruption," said the event's co-ordinator Steve Dicks.

Senior wildlife officer Raymond Bourget said a small adult black bear was first spotted near the Explorer Hotel at 12:47 p.m.

It was seen again on the Frame Lake Trail behind city hall and heading toward the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. The animal then reportedly became frightened by people and went back to the trail, heading toward Ruth Inch Memorial Pool.

After making its way through the thick undergrowth around the trail, it made a dash across Franklin Avenue, heading past Forrest Drive and disappearing into the bush by Con Mine.

Bourget said the chase lasted about an hour and three-quarters and involved the resources of three agencies - Environment and Natural Resources, Municipal Enforcement and the RCMP.

"The initial objective was to try and direct it back away from the community. When it started to get to a place where it was being surrounded by people, we were trying to keep people away from it," said Bourget.

He said the bear was just passing through and Yellowknife's geography means bears are unwittingly drawn toward the city.

"What happens is, a bear comes along, trying to get past town. It moves along the lakeshore, which takes it into town and then it looks for green zones. When it encounters people it gets confused," he said.

Some witnesses reported seeing two bears, while others said people were seen throwing rocks at the bear, but Bourget said he was only aware of one animal, and had not heard any reports of rock throwing.

Nicolas Mantta said he received a nasty shock when he attempted to exit his Franklin Avenue home.

"I practically ran into it, it came out of nowhere. I opened my door and ran back inside," he said.