MNR Bear-Wise Program

Additional Articles about Bear Encounters:

- OutsideHow: How To Be Safe Around Bears

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Who to contact

Not every bear sighting is an emergency situation. Here is who to call if you encounter a bear.

Emergency situations

BE BEAR WISE THIS SEASON

Anyone living in Northern Ontario will tell you that living alongside wildlife is a great experience. Imagine sitting on your porch with your morning coffee and seeing a deer drinking from a stream or a bear and her cubs playing in a hayfield!! This is reality for us Northerners, especially when living in a rural area. As beautiful as this is there are also certain precautions we have to take to ensure that wildlife are just observed. An unsuspecting person could find themselves in a dangerous and potentially lethal situation if certain precautions are not taken to ensure that Bears and other wild animals are not purposefully or accidentally lured to your home. Below are tips to help you avoid a bad encounter and help you live in peace amongst all the beauty that is Northern Ontario.

BLACK BEAR FACTS

• Black bears actively feed from mid April to late fall
• In late summer and early fall some bears actively feed for 20 hours a day, ingesting as much as 20,000 calories.
• While preparing for the winter hibernation bears normally double their body weight
• Black bears will travel up to 100 km’s to find other food (garbage) if natural food is not available.
• Once they know where a non-natural food source is located, they will return again and again.

HOME SAFETY

 To avoid bear encounters, follow these Bear Wise tips.

Garbage:

• put garbage out only on the morning of garbage day, not the night before
• put meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day
• put garbage in containers that have tight-fitting lids and store it in a bear-proof location such as your basement or a sturdy garage
• frequently wash garbage cans and recycle containers and lids with a strong-smelling disinfectant, such as bleach
• take garbage to the dump often, if you do not have curbside pick-up

Bird feeders:

• fill bird feeders only through the winter months
• put away feeders in the spring and instead, offer birds natural alternatives (for example, flowers, nesting boxes and fresh water)

Barbecue:

• burn off food residue and wash the grill right away
• empty the grease trap every time you barbecue
• remove all utensils, dishes and food after eating
• be aware that cooking odours can attract bears

Fruits and berries:

• pick all ripe and fallen fruit from trees and shrubs on your property
• plant non-fruit bearing trees and shrubs

Pet food:

• do not leave pet food outdoors, in screened-in areas or porches

Dogs:

• leash your dog(s) when walking through communities or out in bear country to reduce the potential of dogs harassing a black bear or of being attacked by one
• unleashed dogs may instigate a chase response that may lead the bear back to you
• check your yards for the presence of a black bear before letting your dogs out

PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE BEARS

Bears should never obtain human food, pet/livestock feed or garbage. Bears that receive these “food rewards” may become aggressive towards humans or cause property damage. To protect people and their property these bears may have to be destroyed. Wild bears have a natural fear of humans and will attempt to avoid people and developed area fed bears do not. They rely on natural foods such as berries and fish. Fed bears will abandon vital food sources for human foods and garbage and will quickly become conditioned to hand outs and will teach their cubs to do the same. There is also the increased chance of vehicle animal accidents as bears fed along the roads tend to stay near the road.

Avoid bear-human interactions

Alert bears to your presence so they can avoid you. Make noise, such as singing, whistling or talking while in areas with restricted visibility or with high background noise, such as near streams and waterfalls.

While outdoors:

• travel in groups of two or more—people who travel alone are most vulnerable
• scan your surroundings and do not wear music headphones
• watch for signs of bear activity such as tracks, claw marks on trees, flipped-over rocks or fresh bear droppings
• leash your dog, as uncontrolled, untrained dogs may actually lead a bear to you
• pay attention, especially if you are working, gardening or berry picking
• rise slowly if you are in a crouched position so that you don’t startle nearby bears
• avoid strong fragrances that may cause a bear to be curious
• put any food you are carrying in sealed containers in your pack.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE OR ENCOUNTER A BEAR ON YOUR PROPERTY

Every encounter with a black bear is unique. The following information is what experts recommend you do. There is no guarantee that what works in one instance will work in another.

Black Bear Safety Basics

• Never approach the bear to get a better look.
• DO NOT attempt to feed a bear.
• Anticipate and avoid encounters.
• Know what to do if you encounter a bear.
• Learn about bears and their behavior.
• When outdoors, supervise children and never leave pets unattended.

If you encounter a black bear