Quebec provincial police are warning people in the town of Madeleine-Centre to stay in their homes after a report that a polar bear was spotted in the area.
The town, located on the Gaspe peninsula, is less than 300 km north of the New Brunswick border and separated from more northern parts of Quebec by more than 100 km of water.
Police spokesman Sgt. Stephane Tremblay says a citizen reported the polar bear to wildlife officials who asked police to ensure the public’s safety until they could arrive.
Tremblay says conservation officers arrived and took charge of the situation before 2 pm Saturday.
The province’s Forests, Wildlife and Parks Department says it can’t yet confirm whether the animal that was spotted is in fact a polar bear.
Polar bears have been spotted occasionally in costal regions on Quebec’s Lower North Shore — around 500 km north of Madeleine-Centre.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2022.