Intense media and social media scrutiny has resulted in the return of the Baby Bear statue, stolen in the early morning hours Monday from its perch in Chemainus含羞草研究社� Secret Garden.

Kathy and Ward Yeager are ecstatic to have the bear back in its rightful place with Mama and Papa Bear at Baby Bears Ice Cream Shoppe.

The bear was found by a trucker off the haul road near the Henry Road roundabout Tuesday morning. A note attached read: 含羞草研究社淚 am so sorry for taking the bear.含羞草研究社�

Duncan/North Cowichan RCMP came to the ice cream shoppe to deliver the bear where they met Chris Webb, who does computer work for the Yeagers and was there to see if he could extract more images of the culprit from the surveillance camera at the business.

Webb quickly called the Yeagers with the good news.

含羞草研究社淚 couldn含羞草研究社檛 believe it when we got the call this morning,含羞草研究社� said Kathy.

含羞草研究社淚 hoped it would be returned and I含羞草研究社檓 happy, very happy,含羞草研究社� said Ward.

含羞草研究社淥ur community really pulls together,含羞草研究社� added Kathy. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a community artifact.含羞草研究社�

Baby Bear had his feet ripped out during the theft from a cemented stand, and was a little worse for wear but will now at least be able to heal and get back to his rightful place.

Kathy was quick to credit the staff at the Chemainus Health Care Centre含羞草研究社檚 Urgent Care - and, specifically, Dr. Jim Broere and R.N. Gina Boudot - for springing into action.

含羞草研究社淓ven the doctors helped out to get him repaired,含羞草研究社� marvelled Ward. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 the first bear Dr. Broere has operated on.含羞草研究社�

While the medical staff was working on his feet, 含羞草研究社渢he I.V. was honey,含羞草研究社� chuckled Ward.

The theft of the bear drew province-wide attention for the senseless nature of the crime where the suspect could be seen repeatedly kicking at the statue to dislodge it, but also as a symbol of escalating incidents pertaining to property crime in communities.

Ward expressed his gratitude to the news media for the response that undoubtedly had something to do with the bear含羞草研究社檚 return.

含羞草研究社淲e had so many thousands of people who含羞草研究社檝e responded,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淭he Garden here is a little bit of Chemainus. Everybody likes to come here. Everybody has taken a bit of ownership of this. This is a moment I can say we含羞草研究社檝e got a nice ending here, albeit we含羞草研究社檝e got a bit of repair to do. He含羞草研究社檚 part of the family.含羞草研究社�

Video surveillance was crucial, too, with clear images of the suspect being released, Ward added.

含羞草研究社淭his was actually very violent when you take a look at the video. When you steal things, you含羞草研究社檙e not going to do that anonymity anymore. If I was him, I含羞草研究社檇 be terribly embarrassed. I think his family should be terribly embarrassed what he did.含羞草研究社�

The Yeagers aren含羞草研究社檛 about to let him off the hook just because the bear含羞草研究社檚 been returned and hope he含羞草研究社檒l still be identified to face charges.

Fairy tales and fables do come true, and the tale of the Three Bears, in Chemainus at least, does have a happy ending.

含羞草研究社淚n the spring, I think we含羞草研究社檒l have a grand opening where Baby Bear will be re-installed,含羞草研究社� said Ward.

At the same time, there will be free ice cream for all.