Teen thrown from saddle when mount gets whiff of bruin
Yumimi Pang, The Province
Published: Wednesday, July 26, 2006

An 18-year-old Burnaby woman is in hospital with a broken leg after the horse she was riding got spooked by a bear near Burnaby Lake Regional Park.

Danielle Bradner was riding at an equestrian centre just east of the park.

“She didn’t see the bear, but her horse smelled him. Her horse got spooked and she came off,” said Debbie Rogal, a member of the Burnaby Horsemen’s Association.

Rogal has been concerned since the beginning of July, when a black bear was first spotted near the facility.

“When it comes down to one of our members being injured and the potential of danger and disaster for our other members, it hits home,” said Rogal.

The bear was rummaging through garbage in a nearby residential area before it wandered to the horsemen’s association property.

It is believed to be the same bear that has been spotted throughout the park for the past month.

“Although the bear provoked an incident with the horse, he was not acting aggressively toward the horse. He was merely walking through the riding ring,” said GVRD parks manager Frieda Schade.

On Tuesday afternoon, conservation officer Jeff Palm set up a bear trap behind the equestrian centre and near a park entrance.

The bear had not been prioritized for relocation or destruction before because it hadn’t harmed anyone or come into close contact with people.

“It’s so interested in garbage that it’s just comfortable walking past people and is losing its natural fear of being around people,” said conservation officer Jeff Palm.

If the bear is caught, he will be relocated to an undisclosed bear habitat on Crown land.

Signs warning the public about the bear are still posted around the park. Burnaby RCMP is advising the public to contact police or conservation officers if a bear is seen.

“The other word of caution, just as it is with all wildlife, is to try to maintain garbage in secure containers. These are animals who will take any opportunity to eat what they find,” said Cpl. Pierre Lemaitre of Burnaby RCMP.

yumimipang@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2006