A family boating on Okanagan Lake near Vernon called B.C. Conservation Service after spotting an exhausted baby bear swimming, then helped warm and return it to shore.
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A boating trip on Okanagan Lake near Vernon turned into a wildlife rescue after a family spotted a baby bear cub swimming in open water, according to details provided to Global News.
Christina Zamniuk said the family was travelling by boat between their Vernon lakehouse and Adventure Bay last weekend when they noticed the cub swimming in the middle of the lake.
Zamniuk described the cub as exhausted and struggling to keep its head above water, prompting the family to act rather than leave it in the lake.
The family called the B.C. Conservation Service for guidance because they were unsure what to do, the report says. In the meantime, they were able to secure a rope around the bear to bring it close.
The cub, which the family named Boo Boo, was brought onto the boat so it could warm up. Zamniuk said the bear’s condition was serious enough that its nose went under and it appeared to be struggling to stay afloat.
Zamniuk said they kept Boo Boo on the boat to warm for about an hour, describing the cub as shivering, shaking, and terrified while on board.
On the advice of the B.C. Conservation Service, the family was told to take Boo Boo close to shore and then use a “loving shove” to help it make it onto land.
After being moved toward shore with that guidance, Boo Boo went on its way, the report says, indicating the rescue helped the cub recover enough to continue without further intervention.
For residents around Metro Vancouver and across the province, the incident is a reminder that wildlife can be encountered unexpectedly during summer water recreation, and that contacting the Conservation Service can provide practical direction in the moment.
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