Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jun 22/01) - Students were kept indoors at two city schools after a bear sighting put wildlife officers on high alert.
Renewable Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development officers responded to a call reporting a black bear roaming a wooded area adjacent to William McDonald and Ecole Allain St. Cyr schools around noon Wednesday.
"There's a state of panic right now in Yellowknife," said Ecole St. Cyr principal Julie Bouchard. A teen was killed by a bear near Prosperous Lake June 2.
"We cancelled outdoor activities for the day," Bouchard said. "I think with the amount of mosquitoes we've had recently, I don't think the kids mind at all."
The bear was spotted by a parent visiting William McDonald school just before lunch break.
Principal Gord Breen said he immediately contacted RWED and Ecole St. Cyr next door to warn them of the bear sighting.
"We will confirm with RWED before we send children home today," said Breen, who also cancelled outdoor activities for the afternoon.
"The kids dealt with it very responsibly," said Breen. "They were very curious more than anything else."
Although RWED officers didn't find the bear, senior wildlife officer Raymond Bourget, said a person reported seeing one swimming across Kam Lake. "All that was said is that it appeared a bear was seen," said Bourget. "It was a mature bear."
Bourget said that bears do approach the outskirts of town from time to time, particularly in areas of dense bush.
He recommends people be extra vigilant when travelling through these areas.
"That part of town is a green belt," said Bourget.
"So it is not uncommon for bears to walk through it."
