Bear sightings close White Pine Beach in Belcarra, B.C.
Closure meant to break cycle of bear searching for food at picnic area, Metro Vancouver spokesperson says
A popular beach in the Metro Vancouver village of Belcarra is closed until further notice due to a "nuisance bear" in the area, according to the regional government.
White Pine Beach has been closed since Saturday, when Metro Vancouver said the bear was spotted on the beach several times in the morning, according to a Facebook post.
Other parts of təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park are open, said spokesperson Jennifer Saltman.
A food ban that was in place in the rest of the park has been lifted, but a "no-cooking" ban remains throughout the whole park as a measure to "reduce attractants," Saltman said in an emailed statement.
"Several bears in the area have become food conditioned and attracted to the picnic area, where food is most frequently present," Saltman said.
"When bears become food conditioned, they can lose their fear of people, and the White Pine Beach closure is meant to break the cycle of this bear frequenting the picnic area in search of food, protecting both the bear and beach visitors."
Metro Vancouver is working with the provincial Conservation Officer Service to assess the situation.
With files from Pinki Wong