Curtis Pirie encountered an unexpected sight when his bicycle chain malfunctioned, forcing him to cross the road in Oliver, British Columbia. Just an hour earlier, his wife had shown him a picture of a bear on social media within their community.
Spotting the bear in an orchard with a large stove pipe stuck on its head, Pirie and a neighbor attempted to remove it but were unsuccessful. The bear then climbed a tree, leading to a call to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. After tranquilizing the bear, the officers had to assist it in safely descending from the tree before removing the pipe.
According to Sgt. James Zucchelli, the conservation service had received multiple reports about the bear over the previous ten days. The bear had been seen near a golf course, exhibiting unusual behavior like bumping into vehicles and structures. Despite its thin appearance, the bear was still in good health and was relocated back to the woods near Oliver.
It remains a mystery how the bear ended up with the pipe on its head. Zucchelli emphasized the importance of keeping attractants away and promptly contacting authorities when encountering animals in distress.
