It wasn't what Dwayne Martens was expecting to see when he stepped outside this morning...a black bear taking a nap in his backyard tree!
"I came into my garage around 8:15 this morning and I looked out my backdoor and happened to see it," explained the Altona resident.
When asked how he even spotted the bear all the way up in the tree, he added, "something black caught the top of my sight and I looked up and, oh dear, what was this? I was not expecting to see this!"
"I think I turned almost every shade of white I could be. I went inside and regrouped for a little bit and phoned the police," explained Martens.
Also responding was the Fire Chief, Public Works staff and the local animal control officer.
It didn't take long, however, for word to spread and before long, people were gathering around the perimeter of the yard snapping photos and shooting video, checking out the rare sighting for themselves.
Authorities ask that spectators stay away from the area of 1st St. NW until it's been cleared.
Manitoba Conservation officials have since arrived on scene and, according to one officer, the plan is to wait until the bear makes its way a bit lower down the tree before they try and subdue it and trap it. That could take a few hours, however. Once trapped, conservation officers will remove it from town limits.
