Curtis Pirie encountered a surprising sight when his bike chain malfunctioned, forcing him to cross the road in Oliver, B.C. Just an hour before, his wife had shown him a picture of a bear on social media within their small community.
As he glanced to the side, Pirie spotted the animal walking through an orchard. Initially, he struggled to identify it but soon realized it was the very bear his wife had mentioned earlier. The yearling had a stove pipe stuck on its head, pacing within a fenced orchard. Pirie and a neighbor tried to remove the pipe but failed, leading the bear to climb a tree.
Following a call to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, officers arrived and tranquilized the bear. It took a few minutes for the sedative to take effect, causing the bear to become stuck in the tree. With the help of a large pole, Pirie, his neighbor, and the officers guided the bear to the ground and successfully removed the pipe.
The conservation officers had been receiving reports about the bear for about ten days before the rescue. The bear had been seen near a golf course, colliding with vehicles and structures. Despite looking thin, the bear was relocated back into the woods near Oliver as it appeared to be in decent health.
Authorities advised the public to keep attractants away and report any similar animal incidents promptly. The exact cause of the pipe getting stuck on the bear’s head remains unknown, emphasizing the importance of wildlife safety awareness.