The Whistler RCMP used non-lethal techniques on bears this week.

The first incident was reported in the late morning of May 11, and involved a bear that had somehow found its way into the fenced area surrounding the Whistler Medals Plaza. The police stationed an officer near the playground, and a bear banger device was used to scare the bear into a wooded area to the north of the plaza.

The bear was medium-sized and untagged. There's no word on whether it was male or female.

The RCMP also responded to a bear call on the evening of May 11 at Sundial Place. They found the bear surrounded by people with cameras, and managed to coax the bear out of the area, down the Village Stroll and towards the conference centre, where it climbed a tree in a glade to hide. Satisfied that the bear was no threat to the public and that bear-watchers have moved on they pulled back to give the bear space to make a getaway.

The bear was also described as mid-size and untagged, although there's nothing to indicate that it's the same bear from earlier in the day.

The RCMP are asking the public to give bears in public areas lots of space, not to approach bears and especially to never corner a bear or block its escape route.