As black bears emerge from hibernation in spring, the Government of Ontario and the OPP are advising the public on how to avoid attracting their attention and the best ways to keep them from sniffing out a potential meal in the neighbourhood.
Bear sightings in rural areas are a common occurrence at the start of spring. It’s in these rural places where black bears are known to leave their dens and wander closer to residential areas in search of a quick meal. With fewer natural food sources at the beginning of the season, black bears are known to scavenge for food wherever they may find it.
The province advises people to take the following precautions during the start of the spring season:
- 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.
- Clean food residue from outdoor barbecue grills and grease traps after each use.
- Keep dogs on leash and store pet food indoors.
The province has also advised residents to share this info with neighbours to maintain a community that works together to avoid drawing bears in.
Bears are known to remember where they have found food sources in the past and will travel long distances to return to a potential source.
For a non-emergency encounter with a bear, call the toll-free reporting line at 1-866-514-2327, which operates at all hours from April 1 to Nov. 30.
During an encounter where a bear is posing an immediate threat or showing aggressive behaviour, the OPP advises remaining calm and calling 911 or your local police department’s line.
To learn more about how to avoid attracting bears and handle an encounter, visit ontario.ca/BearWise.
