North Bay Police are alerting people to a number of complaints of bear sightings in the area. The outer edges of North Bay and Callander are surrounded by bush and bears are part of the natural wildlife habitat so expect the odd visitor to come this time of the year.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources bears usually avoid humans however they are attracted to urban and rural areas to get food. Many of the calls this fall include backyards where there are apple trees or where garbage has been left out. Bears may enjoy eating from a non-natural food source (like garbage or bird food) so please remove or secure the items that attract bears.
When to call police about bears:
Call 911 if a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety. Emergencies might be when a bear enters a schoolyard when school is in session, enters or tries to enter a residence, wanders into a public gathering, kills livestock/pets and lingers at the site, or stalks people and lingers at the site.
For non-emergencies, call the Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327. This number is for when a bear is roaming around, checking garbage cans, breaking into a shed where garbage or food is stored, in a tree, pulling down a bird feeder or knocking over a barbecue, or moving through a backyard or field but is not lingering.
If you encounter a bear. Do not panic. Remain calm. Do not try to get closer to the bear for a better look or picture. Slowly back away removing yourself from the area to access a building or vehicle.
For more information on bear wise tips, visit here.
