Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, faced a large wildfire that led to its evacuation. However, while residents hurriedly left the city, emergency workers remained behind, and they are now being joined by unexpected visitors – bears. According to the BBC, these animals have been attracted to the city’s empty streets by the lingering smell of garbage left behind during the evacuation. While sightings of bears are not unusual during a typical summer in Yellowknife, there has been an increase in black bear sightings since the evacuation order, as reported by CTV.
Wildlife officer James Williams suggests that the fires may have displaced the bears from their usual habitat and destroyed some of their food sources. Firefighters have even encountered bears on the fire line; however, these encounters have been relatively harmless, with the bears being more frightened than the humans. Williams, along with other agencies such as the Mounties, has been patrolling the city and surrounding trails to ensure the safety of residents. Typically, their approach is to trap and release bears, but some persistent bears that keep returning to the city have unfortunately been euthanized.
Yellowknife Mayor Rebecca Atly recently announced that the fire has been successfully contained, and efforts are underway to allow the city’s 20,000 residents to return. However, no specific date has been set for their return, according to CTV.
The situation in Yellowknife serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by both humans and wildlife during natural disasters. It highlights the need for comprehensive emergency plans that consider the wellbeing of all inhabitants, including animals, in affected areas.
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