Quick Take
- Out of an entire convenience store full of options, the bear made a snack choice that was almost suspiciously on-brand, and it was anything but random. See the bear's choice →
- The owner was standing right there when it happened, and this is how he reacted. See the owner's reaction →
- A bear calmly browsing a store sounds harmless, but wildlife experts warn this behavior signals something more serious. Read the wildlife warning →
- Canada's black bear population is bigger than most people assume, and Vancouver Island sits right in the thick of it. Explore Canada's bear population →
A black bear walking into a convenience store already sounds like the setup to a joke. This one somehow gets better. When a bear wandered into a small gas bar on Vancouver Island, it ignored plenty of other options, grabbed a bag of gummy bears, and headed back outside to enjoy its snack. Apparently, brand consistency matters.
Watch the Bear’s Shopping Trip Below
A Black Bear Walks Into a Gas Bar in British Columbia
The video above takes us to Canada, specifically Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Security footage captured the encounter at Tipton Gas Bar at about 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2023. CTV News later shared footage of the unusual customer.
Jay and Karen deGoesbriand owned the gas bar at the time. Jay was behind the counter drinking coffee when the bear wandered through the open door. According to the owners, the animal did not appear aggressive. It simply walked through the store, sniffed around the merchandise, and eventually settled on something that was almost suspiciously appropriate.
The Black Bear Chooses Gummy Bears
American black bears can reach speeds of about 35 mph.
©iStock.com/Lynn_Bystrom
The bear makes its way through the shop without knocking shelves over or tearing into everything in sight. Instead, the footage shows it calmly investigating the store before reaching the candy section.
Then comes the payoff. The bear grabs a small package of gummy bears in its mouth and walks straight back outside. It reportedly settled down in the parking lot and ate them while Jay watched. Out of an entire convenience store full of potential snacks, the black bear picked gummy bears. You really could not script that much better.
As funny as the footage is, a black bear entering a building is still a wildlife encounter, not an invitation to approach it. Bears that learn to associate people and developed areas with easy food can become habituated or food-conditioned, increasing the chance of future conflicts. Human food and garbage should always be secured in bear country.
How Many Black Bears Live in Canada?
American black bears (Ursus americanus) are native to North America and remain widespread across large parts of Canada and the United States. The IUCN categorizes the American black bear as a species of Least Concern.
Parks Canada gives a very general estimate of up to 600,000 black bears across North America, with more than 380,000 living in Canada. Their numbers and distribution vary considerably by region, but Canada remains one of the species’ major strongholds.
Black bears are generally solitary animals, except for mothers with cubs, temporary mating pairs, or bears gathering around concentrated food sources. They are also opportunistic omnivores. Much of their diet consists of plants, berries, nuts, grasses, and insects, but they may also eat fish, carrion, small animals, and whatever calorie-packed human food they manage to find. In this particular bear’s case, the menu apparently included gummies.
