TORONTO—The Ontario government, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and the Ontario Provincial Police remind everyone to continue to be “BEAR WISE” as bears have been out of hibernation, for several months now.
In some regions, bears may experience a scarcity of natural food and therefore seek other food sources such as garbage cans and bird feeders. Bears entering communities do not necessarily pose a threat, but the MNRF believes it is important to know what to do should you encounter a bear.
Keeping bears from visiting your backyard, or your camp can be as simple as making sure that you store garbage in tightly shut waste container, and preferably indoors.
According to the MNRF, other helpful hints to keep bears away include:
- Waiting until pickup day to put out garbage
- Storing bird feeders for the spring (you can offer birds natural alternatives, such as flowers, nesting boxes and fresh water)
- Cleaning food residue and grease from outdoor barbecue grills, including grease traps, after each use
- Keeping pet food indoors
Most importantly, when out in the woods camping, out at your cottage, or in areas known as bear country, the MNRF asks that pet owners remember these specific tips to keep them safe too:
- leash your dog(s) to reduce the potential of dogs harassing a black bear or of being attacked by one
- check your yards for the presence of a black bear before letting your dogs out and keep an eye on them while they are in the yard
- manage your own safety first
- if you encounter a bear, remove yourself and your pet from the area as soon as you can do so safely
- Keep your dog on a leash when out in bear country
According to the MNRF, “Unleashed dogs can cause defensive black bear attacks on people.” If you encounter a bear, and you believe that it is posing an immediate threat by its aggressive or threatening behavior, the MNRF advises you to stay calm and call 911 or your local police department.
