The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is warning people to be aware of bears in the North Bay area and to take the necessary steps to avoid attracting bears into local neighbourhoods.
In the past week people in the Leonard Street, Cartier Street, and College Drive areas have reported seven sightings of black bears. Of these reported incidents, one involved items such as food waste in garbage, which attract bears.
Bears are often attracted to things such as garbage, bird food, including suet, seed and nectar, odours from barbecues and ripe fruit left on trees and on the ground. Removing attractants can help keep bears out of your area.
It takes only one property where attractants are not managed carefully to draw bears to a neighbourhood. Everyone must work together to keep bears in the wild where they belong.
When the availability of natural foods is poor, bears will look for alternative food sources, often in town. If bears cannot gain access to non-natural foods such as garbage, they will not stay in the area.
- If a bear poses an immediate threat to public safety by exhibiting threatening or aggressive behaviour, call 911.
- For advice on removing bear attractants, or to report a sighting, call the ministry’s Bear Wise reporting line toll-free at 1-866-514-2327, Hearing Impaired (TTY) 1-705-945-7641. You will be connected with a live operator during bear season (April 1-Nov. 30).
- Find out more about what to do in emergency and non-emergency situations.
- Read more about bears at ontario.ca/bearwise.
