Yellowknife (Aug 30/06) - A black bear cub took a frantic tour of the city last week in search of its mother.

The cub, born this year and about the size of a cocker spaniel, was first spotted around 5 p.m. on Aug. 24 near the Niven Lake subdivision.

It was trying to cross the highway that leads out of Yellowknife, but could not because of heavy traffic, said senior wildlife officer Raymond Bourget. Officers with the territorial department of Environment and Natural Resources halted vehicles for 10 minutes so the bear could cross the road.

Bourget said officers only saw the cub as it crossed the road, but received calls about sightings for the next few hours. At 7 p.m., the cub was seen near the tennis courts at McNiven Beach. It was then spotted at the Northland trailer park, halfway across town, before crossing Old Airport Road to Bromley Drive area. The cub was last seen on Kam Lake Road near the Multiplex.

Bourget presumes the cub was looking for its mother. There were no sightings of an adult bear in the city. The cub was moving into the wind and was travelling from green space to green space, Bourget said.

Bourget explained that bears are attracted to Yellowknife because the city is filled with open areas. It is also easy for bears to travel along the lake shore. Mid-August to early October is the most common time to see bears in and around the city, he said. In the fall, bears are looking for food to put on weight.

Bourget reminded residents bears will attack if they are cornered.