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A family boating trip on Okanagan Lake took an unexpected turn last weekend when they spotted an exhausted bear cub struggling to stay afloat in the middle of the lake. Christina Zamniuk told Global News that she and her family were travelling between their Vernon lakehouse and Adventure Bay when they noticed the small animal in distress.
Cub on the Verge of Drowning
Zamniuk described the scene as alarming. The cub, which the family later named Boo Boo, was clearly running out of strength. “His little nose was going under,” she said. “He was blowing bubbles. His little back legs were not moving anymore. He was just paddling with his front and he was just exhausted.”
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The family acted quickly. They managed to loop a rope around the bear cub and carefully pulled him onto the boat. Once on board, Boo Boo was shivering and visibly terrified. However, the family kept him warm and calm as they figured out their next steps.
Meanwhile, the family contacted the B.C. Conservation Service for guidance. They were unsure how to handle the situation safely. Officials advised them to keep the cub on board until he recovered enough strength to return to land.
Bear Cub Released Safely on Shore
The family kept Boo Boo on the boat for approximately one hour. During that time, the cub gradually warmed up and stopped shaking. Zamniuk said the experience was both frightening and heartwarming at the same time.
Following the advice of the B.C. Conservation Service, the family brought the boat close to shore. They then gave Boo Boo what Zamniuk described as a loving shove toward land. The cub made it safely onto the bank and disappeared into the surrounding area.
The Okanagan Lake bear cub rescue quickly captured public attention after the family shared their story. Wildlife officials generally advise the public to avoid direct contact with wild animals. In this case, however, the intervention appears to have saved the young bear’s life. The B.C. Conservation Service guided the family throughout the process to ensure both the cub and the rescuers stayed safe.
