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British Columbia

Elusive bear cub caught attempting Canada-U.S. border crossing in northern B.C.

According to a social media post from the Canada Border Service Agency, a small black bear cub was spotted at the border crossing between Hyder, Alaska, and Stewart, B.C., seeking "entry for essential reasons."

It's believed the bear was looking for wild food and berries, according to a wildlife shelter

The bear weighed around 21 pounds when it was captured, according to the wildlife shelter. It said a healthy weight for this bear to hibernate is at least 50 pounds. (CBSA)

Officers at the Canada-U.S. border between Stewart, B.C., and Hyder, Alaska had cause to paws recently, whenan unusual visitor was caught attempting to cross.

According to a social media post from the Canada Border Services Agency, a small female black bear cub "sought entry for essential reasons, but had no travel documents."

Those "reasons"are believed to be natural food and berries, according to Angelika Langen with the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter, which has been tracking the bear for more than a month.

The bear had been spotted several times around Stewart, B.C., the last month, according to the wildlife shelter. (CBSA)

"She kept eluding us ... one day we got the call and she's at the border and trying to get in there," said Langen, who immediately dispatched a volunteer to trap the bear.

"She was in the trap within minutes," said Langen. "She was so hungry, she thought that was just a great place to go."

The cub, which tried to border-hopon Oct. 16, will be cared for at the shelter for the winter,Langen says, as it does not weigh enough to survive the season through hibernation. She also added it's been a busy year for her shelter, which she co-founded.

"Currently, we have 33 black bears and threegrizzly bears in care," she said.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to non-essential travel for over seven months.

The female cub was trapped and taken to a wildlife shelter for nourishment and care for the winter. (CBSA)

With files from Andrew Kurjata