Bear encounter in Whistler Village caught on camera [Video]

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is warning Whistler residents and visitors not to feed or approach black bears after a recent close encounter was caught on video.

In a series of clips posted on social media Monday, a bear can be seen walking along the pedestrian walkway outside the Roots store in Whistler Village. Several people can be seen nearby, and most seem to be ignoring the animal.

At one point, in one of the videos, a man holding up his phone as though he’s recording approaches the bear, getting within a few feet of it.

The bear begins to charge at him, but does not attack, and the man responds by growling at the bear.

In another video in the series, someone can be heard clapping loudly and yelling at the bear in an effort to get it to move along.

In a statement to CTV News, the BCCOS …