(SOUTH BRUCE COUNTY, ON.) – On September 12th, 2011 at 11:25 pm, a black bear was spotted along Olde Victoria Street in Kincardine. The South Bruce OPP would like to remind residents of the following information from the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) Bear Wise program.
Black bears are intelligent, adaptable predators with a biological instinct to eat whatever they find, wherever they find it. They are an anti social animal and the main population control is the availability of food. Black bears are agile, good swimmers and fast runners with a keen sense of smell. It’s preferable to keep Black bears away from populated areas.
In 2007, the leading attractors for bears were:
Residential garbage
Bird feeders
Fruit trees
To keep bears away, remove the attractant (potential food):
Keep your property clean, free of attractants
Be extra careful storing and disposing of garbage
Feed birds only during winter
To report a bear sighting, contact the Bear Reporting Hotline at 1 866 514 2327. In an immediate emergency call your local police or dial 911.
For more information about the Ministry of Natural Resources Bear Wise program, you can view the website at: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/Bearwise.