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Police respond to call of bear chased by remote control car

But neither bear, car nor kids were there when cops showed up
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People are reminded, not to leave out food that can attract bears. files

After a long winter, bears are wandering around one Lower Mainland city like they own the place and are lighting up social media.

The RCMP detachment responsible for the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows area received a call Monday night of a black bear being chased by a remote control car.

“Bear spotted, by Golden Ears school,” Joel Silvestri said on Facebook.

Officers responded, but when they arrived on scene, no bear, car or car operator were around.

Another bear was spotted near a coffee shop, while a cub was observed along a main street.

Police even got a call about a bear ambling through a seniors’ complex.

“You can’t make this stuff up,” said Ross Davies, with the Kanaka Education Environmental Protection Society.

It is a bad year for bears though, he added.

“This is probably the most bear activity in the neighbourhoods that I’ve ever seen, actually,” he said.

The heavy snow pack in the mountains has pushed the bruins down into the suburbs where they’re looking for free lunches. That’s why people have to remember to keep their garbage away from hungry paws.

“If you’ve got a neighbourhood with habituated bears,” Davies said, “the garbage has to be secured until it’s in the truck.”

He said the situation should improve as salmonberries ripen, giving more food for the grazers.