North Vancouver couple finds bear soaking in their pool

DeniseDieringdidn'texpectto see abig black bear standing at the edge of her swimming poolwhen she looked out the back door of her North Vancouver home late on Monday afternoon.

She told CBC News she shouted to her husband, Tony Diering, who was nearby, to "Close the door!"

When she looked back, the bear slid into the pool,then climbedinto the adjoining hottub for a quick soak.

The swim lasted about 15 minutes, and was partly caught on video,beforethe bear scampered offthrough a hole it had knocked down in theDierings'fence.

Tony Diering said hethinks the bear wasa male.He also noticed it had been tagged by wildlife officials.The mountainside city is often the site of bear activity.

"In the neighbourhood there are a lot of small kids and obviously it's a safety concern for our neighbours," he said.

"I just hope the bear can get the message and basically go somewhere else."

A bear possibly the same one was in the Dierings' backyard last month and licked their bird feeder clean, they said.