Ramsay unveils bear necessities

Ontario Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay has unveiled the new Bear Wise funding program, which will provide $900,000 to help make communities in bear country safer.

Ramsay made his announcement early this morning at North Bay city hall, adding the North Bay Police Service will soon become the second police service in Ontario to sign an agreement with the ministry regarding the Bear Wise program.

A bear hotline, 1-866-514-BEAR, TTY 705-945-7641, has also been set up, as well as a web site, bears.mnr.gov.on.ca, to help educate the public about nuisance bears.

The North Bay Police Service will remain the first place for people to call for dangerous bear situations.

BayToday.ca will have more on this story soon.