On Wednesday, May 22nd, wildlife protection workers were alerted of an unfamiliar situation. People reported a perched bear in a Neufchâtel forest early in the morning.

Wednesday morning, at approximately 6:34 am, the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ) was informed that a bear was in a tree located on the edge of the Boulevard Saint-Jacques and the Saint-Charles rivers, not far away from the intersection with the Boulevard Lebourgneuf. He was perched many meters away from the ground. 

The bear was captured at approximately 11 am. To be able to reach it without hurting it, the SPVQ had to tranquilize it.  According to a photographer who was present, they put the bear to sleep with a tranquilizer dart. Even tree trimmers participated and cut branches to help the bear fall into his position. 

Unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned. After the bear was mobilized, he got stuck up in the air on a branch. Luckily, Quebec City’s support helped cut the branch with precaution and the bear was recovered in the early morning. Once on the ground, he didn’t get hurt or have any injuries. He was examined, put in a cage, and located kilometers away. 

The police said that it wasn’t any threat to anyone, the perimeter was secured and safe for anyone who was passing by. The automobile circulation wasn’t interrupted during the rescue. According to someone who is living in the neighborhood, the bear was seen in the area days before the rescue.

It’s not the first time that wild animals have been found in the urban perimeter of Quebec City. In autumn 2019, a young black bear was also found in a tree in the middle of Lebourgneuf near apartment buildings. In June 2022, a hungry moose was found in the street looking for food, he was located on the Grande Allée, near Laval University.

Do you think finding more wild animals in the urban sector will cause problems for us in the future?