Police commonly find dogs, human guards or booby-traps on Canadian marijuana growing operations or "grow-ops." In comparison, these bears did a very poor job as guard animals when five policemen arrived.

"They were tame, they just sat around watching... at one point one of the bears climbed onto the hood of a police car, sat there for a bit and then jumped off," said Mansveld.

He said the officers involved in the July 30 raid were all familiar with wild animals, and while wary, were not afraid of the bears once they realized the animals were not aggressive.