Bear spotted in West Bench backyard above Penticton
Published 12:44 pm Thursday, August 27, 2026
A young bruin was recently spotted in the West Bench area west of Penticton, and warnings remain posted for a bear active in the Wiltse area on the other side of the valley.
The bear was seen in the backyard of a property on Moorpark Drive in the evening of Aug. 27.
The City of Penticton issued a warning to the Wiltse area at the start of the month after a bear was reported nearby.
With bears increasingly active throughout much of the year, residents should avoid leaving out attractants.
In particular, both the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and the City of Penticton advise residents to only take out their garbage on the morning of pick-up days, and to store the garbage either indoors or locked in a wildlife-secure container until pick-up day arrives.
People can report wildlife conflicts or sightings in urban areas to the Conservation Officer Service anytime at 1-877-952-7277.