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Be bear wise and prevent bear encounters with these tips
March 27, 2025 · 0 Comments
By Sam Odrowski
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Government of Ontario recently issued a media release on March 20 to help the public avoid attracting black bears as they come out of hibernation.
“In Ontario, black bears wake up from hibernation between mid-March and late April. During this time of year, there is little natural food for bears, causing them to search for other food sources, including garbage and bird feed,” said the OPP and provincial government’s joint press release.
Bears have excellent memories and will return to where they have found food in the past, sometimes travelling over 100 kilometres, so be mindful of locations where you’ve encountered bears before.
To help keep Ontarians safe and bears in their natural habitat, the OPP and province are advising the public to follow these simple precautions:
- 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 (instead you can offer birds natural alternatives such as flowers, nesting boxes or fresh water)
- Clean food residue from outdoor barbecue grills and grease traps after each use
- Keep dogs on leash and store pet food indoors
- Alert your neighbours about bear activity and share these Bear Wise tips to reduce attractants in your community
If, despite your best efforts, you still find yourself encountering black bears, there are places to call for help. The province operates a non-emergency, toll-free Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327. The line operates from March 17 to Nov. 30 and is available 24/7.
“If a bear is posing an immediate threat by showing threatening or aggressive behaviour, remain calm and call 911 or your local police department,” said the OPP and provincial government’s joint press release.
Visit ontario.ca/bearwise to learn more about how to avoid attracting bears and what to do if you encounter one.
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