The giant Arctodus simus to whom this tooth belonged was one of the now-extinct mega fauna, such as mammoths and giant bison, which lived in BC and nearby at the end of the ice age, 30,000-11,000 years ago. Their remains are known from deposits immediately preceding and following the last major glacial interval on Vancouver and adjacent islands and raise questions about the extent of the last glaciation.

Short-faced bears lived during the latter half of the Pleistocene Epoch. These carnivores had short snouts, stood up to 3 m tall on their hind legs and weighed as much as a tonne. They may have been the largest carnivorous land mammal ever. They either hunted, or ate animals killed by other predators, and lived in largely grassy or shrubby open habitats.

This fossil is from North Vancouver Island cave deposits.