Fresh bear gets slapped after coming within kissing distance from B.C. man

SOOKE, B.C. – What do you do when a black bear comes within kissing distance?

A man from Sooke, B.C., had no second thoughts — he reached out and slapped the bear.

Mike, who didn’t want to reveal his last name, says he was having a cigarette outside his home on Thursday night when he felt a presence nearby.

He turned, and the bear was arm’s length from him so he lashed out and made what he called face contact with the bear.

Mike says it was the only thing he could think of doing with the bruin right there in his face.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service confirms it’s looking for a bear after getting complaints from several people in the southern Vancouver Island community.(CFAX)