If bear is on your property, a
loud noise such as an air horn will cause him to leave
When walking on your road in
evenings, speak loudly enough that a bear, if around, will hear you
- he won't like to be surprised, but will stay away if he hears you
coming.
Population of bears has not
necessarily grown in recent years, but rather, the bears have
migrated further south, and as previously vacant areas become more
populated, the bears have found it easier to find food at
residential garbage cans and garbage boxes.
Once a bear is 'successful' in
finding food at a garbage box, he will remember the location and
time of his 'success' and will return regularly. He will also take
this same opportunity to search other (close) locations for similar
'success'.
MNR (Craig) is indeed, anxious
to be advised of all Bear instances of "action". This
means he WANTS to hear about a bear knocking over a garbage box, but
doesn't need to hear about just a "sighting" that doesn't
include any action by the bear. It is interesting to note that he
has been officially informed of only TWO (2) bear mischief sightings
on 4ML this summer! TO REPORT A BEAR INCIDENT - CALL BEAR
HOTLINE - 1-866-514-2327
MNR (Craig) will consider
appropriate action to deal with the bear, based on the situation,
frequency of problem, and the "disposition" of the bear.
(If the bear is deemed to be likely to get into trouble with people,
then he will take action - "bad bear". If the bear
seems content to only raid garbage boxes, then he will try to
discourage through education (of the people, not the bear).
MNR position re: the increased
bear mischief is that it is due to the increase of curbside garbage
pickup and reduced community (bear-proof) garbage boxes.
Bear-proof garbage boxes
(designed/fabricated with steel), and are available for
approximately $800-$1000. (This is a lot of $…so I prefer
discouraging the bears for a stretch of 1-2 weeks by keeping garbage
out of boxes).
Best recommended way to get
rid of the bear mischief is to not have garbage available to them in
garbage boxes. If there is JUST ONE garbage box on a local road that
has available food in it for the bear - he will return to that road
day after day. Garbage should not be put in the garbage boxes until
just before the scheduled pickup. THE BEAR WILL NEED TO EXPERIENCE 3
OR 4 "COMPLETELY UNSUCCESSFUL" VISITS to the local road,
before he will give up and move to a better location. (So your
entire road needs to be "on-board" with the "clean
garbage box" procedure through a full week!)
The CoKL has been granted
access to "funding" to help residents deal with Bear
Mischief. He is not aware that the CoKL has used any of this
funding. (Bear-proof garbage boxes, community garbage boxes, etc.)
