Multiple Bear Sightings in Harewood Area

May 23, 2026

Residents in the Harewood, Buttertubs Marsh and Westwood Lake areas have reported multiple black bear sightings this month.

One recent sighting posted in a local wildlife tracking group described "two large bears together" wandering between Weber Street and 9th Street on Howard Avenue.

Another post from the City of Nanaimo said "a bear has been spotted around Buttertubs Marsh. Park crews have put up signage to indicate there is a bear in the area."

There have also been recent reports on Facebook of a bear in the Colliery Dam area.

Another Facebook user said he has viewed at least six bears on his cameras since December in the Westwood Lake area.

The area around Buttertubs has long been a natural wildlife corridor despite being surrounded by urban development. The marsh itself is a protected bird and wildlife sanctuary that attracts a wide variety of animals, including deer, raccoons, turtles, wolves, and black bears.

The City of Nanaimo has previously posted warnings about bear activity in the Harewood area and installed caution signage advising visitors to stay alert.

Conservation officers say urban bear sightings are not unusual in Nanaimo, especially during spring and summer when bears search for food and travel through creek corridors and forested areas connecting parks and neighbourhoods.

For longtime Harewood residents, the sightings are also a reminder that despite the growing city around it, the neighbourhood still sits close to nature. Seeing bears wandering near marsh trails, quiet side streets, and forest edges has become part of life in this corner of Nanaimo – though preferably from a safe distance.

Residents are encouraged to secure garbage, avoid leaving food outside, keep their distance from wildlife, and report concerning bear activity to the BC Conservation Officer Service.