According to the Department of Natural Resources, officials with the Department responded to a call Friday morning of a polar bear sighting in the community of Coachman’s Cove. When officials arrived on the scene, the polar bear was deceased.
Susan Fitzgerald says when her husband called her to their patio this morning to see the polar bear on the beach outside their house, she didn’t believe him.
“I started shaking when I saw it, because my kids were already gone out for the bus, and I knew other people were out around there,” she explained. The small community near Fleur de Lys has never seen a polar bear visit to Ms. Fitzgerald’s knowledge, but the shock of this morning’s experience is enough for them to know they don’t want another one anytime soon.
“It’s scary, especially with all the reports lately and what’s happened in other places,” she said, continuing to explain that the bear in Coachman’s Cove was drastically close to several houses, including the Fitzgerald’s, and showed up right at the time people were getting on the go for their morning walks, and children were waiting for the school bus.
Jumping into action, Susan’s husband Terry grabbed his gun and set out to warn people he saw heading in the direction of the animal that were unaware of it’s presence. Many fishermen with stages in the area go down to check things in the morning, she explained, and could not see what they saw from their vantage point.
“That’s the only thing going through your mind, is the safety of people, the safety of the children out running around and waiting for the bus,” she stated, saying the initial shock and terror of having a potentially dangerous creature so close sometime delays one’s judgement.
Fitzgerald says her husband shot the bear before it harmed anyone and immediately called wildlife authorities following that. Officials visited Coachman’s Cove and retrieved the remains of the animal.
While her husband’s actions may not have been the proper protocol to take, Fitzgerald says based on the circumstances, she feels it was necessary.
“I’m just glad no one was hurt,” she said. “Where everything else goes, we’ll have to wait and see.”
editor@thenorwester.ca
