Bear cub moves into chicken coop in Richer

A Richer resident had quite the adventure this week after discovering an unexpected guest in her yard. 

Stephanie Balsillie says a bear cub showed up around 11 a.m. on November 3. 

“I didn't notice it right away, but my dogs did. And they were out in their pen in the yard, and they were just barking and barking and barking. And so, I went outside, I didn't see anything. But once I left to go for my afternoon bus run, since I'm a school bus driver, and that was around 3 o'clock, I noticed there was a bear cub in the tree by our chicken coop.” 

When she returned home, the bear was still there. She and her husband tried to scare it away but had no luck. 

“It would not budge. It would just look at us and lay back down. And so, I did go online on the Ste. Anne's General Group, and I asked for some suggestions because it was my first time dealing with this, and my concern at that point was just more of my chickens.” 

Members of the group reassured her that the cub would likely leave on its own if left alone. 

“So, we did. We carried on with our evening, took our kids to their lessons and at about 8:30 p.m. on Monday when we came back home, it was gone. So, we just assumed, okay, it's gone.” 

The next morning there was still no sign of the cub, but by that evening, something seemed off as four chickens were perched up on their front deck. 

“I'm like, well, that's unusual because they should be in the coop. It's already sundown. So, my husband came home with our food, we ate supper, and then when he went out after dinner, to go check the coop, and he found the cub in the coop with our other five chickens.” 

Bear cub gets cozy in chicken coop.

Balsillie contacted Black Bear Rescue, who advised her to call conservation officers. 

“They were out here within 40 minutes. We captured the cub, and it was so smooth. He said it was the easiest capture that they've ever done.” 

Bear cub is ready to be transported. 

Concerned about the cub, she reached out to conservation the next day and learned that it was underweight and would not have survived hibernation on its own. 

“I got notifications from the conservation that it was on its way to the Black Bear Rescue Centre in Stonewall. So, it's currently there. It is in its new home until, I believe July, from what the Rescue Centre said. And yes, I'm assuming it's doing good, but at least it's in a safe place now.” 

Although the cub’s visit was short-lived, Balsillie says it made an impression on her. 

“As a mother, the minute I seen it, and knowing that it was all by itself, it really broke my heart. And finding out that it was going to the Rescue Centre, because that was my hopes, I was filled with joy.” 

Now, she says the family feels more at ease knowing there is no longer a bear in their yard, though their chickens are still a little on edge. 

“They were still perched up on my front deck last night, so I need to try to show them that it's safe now to go back into their coop.” 

With files from Carly Koop