Bears spotted in residential areas
Written by Bob McIntyre
Mid-August is an unusual time to see black bears in people territory, but some of that activity is being reported this year. Micheline Mamone is the MNRF’s provincial coordinator for human-wildlife management. She agrees that it’s unusual, especially considering that we didn’t have hard frost in late spring that would have killed off berries. “Once early July rolls around,” she notes, “most of the berry crops are ripening, the bears are actively taking advantage of those berries and we do see provincially a lull in activity around the sort of late July, August and early September. ” Mamone adds that tent caterpillar outbreaks this year robbed bears of natural foods.
Not only did they strip trees of leaves, but also blueberry and cherry plants.“You know, if bears aren’t able to access those natural foods on the landscape, then they are more likely to follow their noses and find food,” she warns, “and oftentimes that can lead them to our communities.”Mamone’s advice is the same as in spring or fall:
Keep your barbecue clean; make sure garbage is in the garage or a bear-proof container until the morning of pick-up; and don’t leave fruit like apples lying around on the ground underneath your trees.
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