Bear warning signs at J.J. Collett Natural Area near Morningside have now come down.

The possible sighting of a juvenile black bear at the natural area late last month, and the finding of likely bear scat prompted the precautionary measures, but Red Deer District Conservation Officer Nick Mandrusiak says there have been no further concerns raised.

Bear warning signage that was posted at the front entrance to the J.J. Collett Natural Area. Photo courtesy of Kim Berube)

“One call from the public, we put up a sign as you know, based on the evidence we had, we had no further sightings or other interactions either at J.J. Collett or just people in the area get referred to our office, so based on that we took the signage down and if the animal is still in the area it’s behaving itself and minding its own business so that is fine and that is normal”.

On Friday, the Village of Clive posted a Lynx sighting to social media, with the wild cat reported at the north end of the village.

Mandrusiak says nothing was reported to his office, but that just may mean it was reported to Fish and Wildlife instead.

Regardless, he says finding these types of animals in our region is not uncommon.

“As far as any sort of animal that is naturally a predatory animal so lynx, cougars, coyotes, bears, wolves etc. throughout the ecosystem if you have a natural setting, if you have the woods, if you have a nature trail, there is a possibility of those animals moving in.  Attacks on human beings and on pets and all the rest of it, are rare”.

(The Village of Clive posted this lynx sighting to their Facebook Page on Friday, May 11th)


 https://lacombeonline.com/local/possible-juvenile-black-bear-spotted-at-jj-collett-prompts-warning