From the Huntsville OPP
The Huntsville Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police want to share that with Spring weather in the forecast, hibernating bears will be waking from mid-March to May. As there is little natural food for them at this time of year, they will seek out whatever they can find.
As per Ontario.ca / Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, follow these simple and effective precautions:
- Never feed or approach bears
- Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids, preferably indoors
- Wait until pickup day to put out garbage for collection
- Remove bird feeders for the spring and summer (instead you can offer birds natural alternatives such as flowers, nesting boxes or fresh water)
- Clean food residue from outdoor barbecue grills and grease traps after each use
- Keep dogs on leash and store pet food indoors
- Alert your neighbours about bear activity and share these Bear Wise tips to reduce attractants in your community
Last year during the Autumn season the Huntsville OPP responded to 40 calls for service within the Town of Huntsville of bears feeding on dumpsters and garbage that was left out by residents. The presence of the bears, while interesting, is not a tourist attraction we want to promote and we all have to work to prevent bears from becoming accustomed to our garbage for their diet.
It is important to know how to handle a bear encounter, and who to call if you encounter one. The province operates a non-emergency, toll-free Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327. The line operates from March 17 to November 30 and is available 24/7.
If a bear is posing an immediate threat by showing threatening or aggressive behaviour, remain calm and call 911 or your local police department.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!
Click here to support local news
0 Comments