Runner tapped by black bear on popular B.C. path

A runner in Coquitlam, B.C. had an encounter with a bear on Saturday, but it was different than other bear attacks. CBC reports that around 11 a.m., a runner was descending the popular Coquitlam Crunch path when a bear emerged from the bushes, tapped her leg and then allowed her to continue running. 

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The interaction was filmed by a fellow runner, Sam Abdullah, who reported the incident to B.C. Conservation Officer Services. While the bear tap was kind of cute, almost high-five like, conservation officers told the CBC that this is atypical behaviour and that a healthy amount of fear is normal for bears and good for the safety of runners. “The concern is that if the bear is losing its fear of humans, it could become more of a danger.”

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If runners encounter a bear, they’re advised to back away slowly and make themselves big. Having a friend along is also recommended for safety. Runners can learn more at WildSafeBC.com. While these encounters are rare, they do happen and the best practice for runners is to know how to react in a way that’s safe for everyone. 

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