UNITY — June 2 turned out to be no ordinary day for Unity.
Around 7 a.m., June 2, a runner who was out by Unity's dog park reported she had encountered a moose. While it did not appear the female moose had a calf with her, the runner made a social media post, warning other dog park users of the encounter, stating she felt stared down by the animal.
Runner, Vanessa Herle Thrun said, “I went out for a run about five this morning [June 2]. I run from the east to the west on the trails north of town to the dog park. On my way back east, I looked up and out of the corner of my eye I saw what I thought at first was a horse. I never really was expecting a moose, but I guess it is the outside of town and lots of bush out that way. We stared at each other for a few moments, then we both went different directions. I was in the north side of the field, and she was south of me not that far out of town. We were probably equally scared of each other! “
“I also saw the photo posted online with the bear and I run down that street to get to the north side of town.”
Thrun says she was not scared but rather startled at the encounter as she is usually the only one out there at that time or the morning.
Within a few hours of Thrun’s experience, reports and pictures surfaced of a small bear in town. Unity RCMP and the town of Unity had been notified and measures were underway to locate the animal.
Pat Risling and Spencer Powell were coming out of the Unity Community Centre around noon on June 2 when they saw the animal moving slowly across the road eastward, travelling down an alley. They reported it to the town office, who had responded they had received another similar report.
Powell posted a photo on social media giving residents a heads up about the encounter and there were a number of responses, including sightings the day previous near Cemetery Road, north of Unity, as well as out near the Richardson Pioneer property.
Unity’s Mayor, Sharon Del Frari, says, “Officially, we had two reports at the town office of the bear sighting that I am aware of. It was quite the day.”
Throughout the day on June 2 people checked in for updates but as of 3 p.m. June 3, checking with both the RCMP and Ministry of Environment, there were no new updates available.
Residents wondered if habitat had been disturbed from recent work being done as part of the Highway 21 construction project.
Bullwinkle and Yogi, as the animal duo became fondly referred to, were the talk of the town most of the afternoon of June 2, and conversation continued into June 3. A variety of concern and curiosity surrounded the wildlife conversation people were having about the sightings.
Until then, residents are reminded to be aware and to not approach wildlife for any reason.
This outlines information from the Ministry of Environment on bears and their presence in our environment.
This story was updated June 3 with additional details of sightings.
