NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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MOOSONEE – The Moosonee Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to remind the public that with warmer spring weather, bears are guaranteed to follow.
Black bears are hungry at this time of year and due to an unusually long winter their natural food source may be more scarce than in previous years so they may come into the community looking for food.
Bears have a keen sense of smell and are attracted to recently used barbecues, garbage containers, compost bins, bird feeders and pet food.
To help to prevent the presence of bears in your neighbourhood, make sure you and your neighbours follow these bear safe tips.
- Put garbage out only on the morning of collection.
- Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids.
- Put away bird feeders and offer natural alternatives like flowers, nesting boxes and fresh water.
- Clean outdoor grills after each use, including the grease trap underneath.
Although black bears rarely attack people, they can be very dangerous animals.
Bears are attracted to where people live and are drawn in by things like garbage outside of houses.
They will investigate these non-natural food sources and if they are successful in finding food, they will return over and over again.
In 2013 the Moosonee OPP responded to 58 complaints of nuisance bears.
In the majority of cases officers attended and determined there was no danger to public safety.
However, in some cases, bears had developed behaviours that were dangerous to public safety in which case the bears had to be dispatched.
If you come in contact with a bear keep your distance and contact the MNR Bear Hotline at 1-866-514-2327.
In the event of an emergency where a bear is threatening the life or safety of the public call the Moosonee OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122 or 9-1-1.
For more information like this, including tips on what to do if you encounter a bear, please visit the MNR Bear Wise site at www.mnr.gov.ca.
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