Penticton: Sometimes you want to practise the bear necessities

Black bears are fairly common in the Okanagan, and it’s not unusual to encounter one of them, especially in rural communities.

This photo was taken as part of Black Press Media’s Amateur Photography contest, and the photographer noted that there was another cub in the area as well.

For visitors, it’s important to realize that these animals a generally solitary and quite docile animals.

However, the are omnivores — which means they eat meat and plants — and they are incredibly fast and powerful.

Generally, it’s a good idea to never get between a female black bear (called a sow) and its cub. It’s also important to practice keeping your food away from your camp, preferably in a odor-proof container stashed high above ground.

For more information about bears in the Okanagan, check this website.

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