Black bear sighting scares Burnaby school and neighbourhood

A Burnaby neighbourhood was on high alert after a black bear cub wandered through aresidential area.

Students and staff at CascadeHeights Elementary, where the bear was first spotted, were told to stay indoors Monday afternoon until authorities captured the animal.

Conservation officers tracked the bear from the school to a nearby yard. Al Pereira, who lives in the neighbourhood, witnessed the drama.

"I saw a bear in my neighbour's yard," Pereira said. "He was coming around the corner with his son and that's when I screamed 'There's a bear in your yard, get back inside your home.'"

Pereira watched the bear jump the fence and climb into a tree, where officers shot him with a tranquilizer. The bear fell from the tree and through the roof of a shed, leaving behind a gaping hole and captive audience.

"It was a little bit shocking," Pereira said.

Authorities took the bear away and are deciding what to do with it now.The officers said the encounter is a reminder of the danger bears can pose.

With files from Megan Batchelor.