Vancouver Island campground evacuated after bear rips into tents, tries to enter occupied vehicle

A popular park and campground on southern Vancouver Island has been evacuated and closed after a food-conditioned black bear tore into three tents and tried to enter an occupied vehicle.

A popular park and campground on southern Vancouver Island has been evacuated and closed after a food-conditioned black bear tore into three tents and tried to enter an occupied vehicle.

French Beach Provincial Park, located west of Sooke, was evacuated and closed to visitors on Wednesday afternoon after the bear entered the area that morning.

The park, including all day-use, camping and hiking areas, will remain closed until Monday, with park operators cancelling all campsite reservations through the weekend.

"The closure was implemented to protect the public from the imminent threat that the bear presented," a spokesperson for BC Parks said in a statement Thursday.

"BC Parks does not take these management decisions lightly and regrets the impact this closure has had on vacationers at this busy time," the spokesperson added. "Visitor safety is of utmost importance in these potentially high-risk situations."

Rob Gardner was biking through the park around 4 p.m. Wednesday when he felt something was amiss.

"I noticed no one was at the beach, the day parking was empty and the camping area was almost empty but the sites all said reserved," he told CTV News.