Young grizzly Boo returns to refuge again

Boo, the young grizzly bear who has escaped twice fromamountain resortnear Golden in southeastern B.C., is once againin custody.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort spokesman Michael Dalzell says the four-year-old male bear returned on the weekend and walked back into his enclosure voluntarily when staff opened the gate for him.

Boo had escaped on June 25, breaking down a large steel door and clearing a series of fences.

That escape came just the day after he had returned from 19 days in the wild following a previous breakout.

On both occasions he was seen in the wild with female grizzly bears.

Dalzell says he hopes Boo will stay put, now that the four-week grizzly mating season is over, at least until next spring.

He says the bear appears to have lost weight, and probably returned because there's food and it's safe.

Last week, B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner suggested that the bear be turned loose wearing a GPS collar, so that the public could keep track of him.

Dalzell says that's still under discussion with the ministry, and the collar is on order. He also says there's been no decision on the possibility of surgery to neuter the young male.

The bear was orphaned in northern B.C. in 2002when a hunter shot his mother. The hunter was fined $9,000.