An em-bear-assing encounter with one of SookeB次元官网网址檚 four-legged wild neighbours left a man with more than just the proverbial egg on his face B次元官网网址� he got a pump of bear spray.

When Robb McCaghren set off for an evening walk with his 14-year-old son Devlin and their dog, their adventure was cut short when they discovered a black bear trapped inside their strataB次元官网网址檚 fenced waste disposal enclosure.

While the bear had been able to scale the B次元官网网址渇ortress-likeB次元官网网址� enclosure, it seemingly was unable to get back out, says McCaghren.

B次元官网网址淚t wasn't being aggressive, it was obviously panicked and really wanted to get out of there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t looked like it had been trapped in there for a while B次元官网网址� there were claw marks on the inside from where it was trying to get out.B次元官网网址� 

McCaghren decided he had to help.

Armed with a can of bear spray in case the bear decided to charge him, McCaghrenB次元官网网址檚 plan was to kick open the sliding door to the enclosure and free the wild animal.

He also wanted to give the bear a fright, believing it to be the same bear which had rifled through the strataB次元官网网址檚 garbage the night before.

B次元官网网址淎 bear habituated to eating garbage is a dead bear, so I just wanted to scare it away,B次元官网网址� said McCaghren.

But his plan went awry. When McCaghren kicked the door open, the force sent him stumbling backwards.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 6B次元官网网址�10B次元官网网址�, so my centre of gravity is quite high,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 ended up running backwards at full speed for about 10 feet before I went down.B次元官网网址�

When he landed, the can of bear spray fired for B次元官网网址渓ess than a second,B次元官网网址� but it was enough to cause McCaghren some pain and discomfort. Standing downwind, his teenage son also copped a mouthful of the potent irritant.

B次元官网网址淲e were both sputtering and coughing,B次元官网网址� said McCaghren.

The commotion had also attracted an audience of McCaghrenB次元官网网址檚 new neighbours B次元官网网址� he and his family moved to Sooke from Naniamo in late November.

This was the family's first bear encounter. 

B次元官网网址淚 was thoroughly embarrassed that all of my neighbours had just watched me fall on my arse,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut they all had a good chuckle at my expense.B次元官网网址�

As for the bear, McCaghren says the animal left the way it had arrived, back over the fence.

B次元官网网址淚t ended up being so spooked by the door flying open that it catapulted over the fence on the inside and disappeared,B次元官网网址� he said.

And so far, the bear has not returned.

B次元官网网址淚 think he was so embarrassed by what he witnessed that he isn't willing to come back again, it did the job, he hasn't been in the garbage again,B次元官网网址� McCaghren said.

The strata has also expedited plans to provide bear-proof metal bins, to ensure all attractants are secured.

By the next day, McCraghren had recovered from the effects of the bear spray, however, his bruised ego, not so much.

But he hopes the tale will bring some light relief to peopleB次元官网网址檚 days.

B次元官网网址淚 was a street kid for years,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淎nd my wife and I have been together for 16 years, and the only reason that we've survived this long is because we find humour in the worst situations. 

B次元官网网址淚f you can laugh at yourself, then nothing's gonna bother you.B次元官网网址�