Black bears are a natural part of life in Northern Ontario, and sightings can occur from forest trails to neighbourhood streets. While most bears steer clear of people, it’s important to know how to avoid attracting them, when to call for help, and how to react if a bear becomes agitated.
How do I keep bears away from my property?
Bears usually avoid humans, but they are attracted into urban and rural areas to get food.
Bears will be attracted to your neighbourhood by:
- strong food aromas
- the scent of garbage
- cooking smells
- ripe fruits and pet food left outside
If bears learn that they can find food where people live, they will often return many times as long as the food source is available. They will even try to enter buildings.
Relocating bears is not a good way to prevent conflicts because bears will remember where they found an easy meal and will return. Bears returning repeatedly to a food source can lead to a more dangerous human-bear conflict and result in the potential dispatch (killing) of the bear.
The best way to prevent conflict with bears is to avoid attracting bears to the neighbourhood by eliminating attractants.
Garbage:
- put garbage out only on the morning of garbage day, not the night before
- put meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day
- put garbage in containers that have tight-fitting lids and store it in a bear-proof location such as your basement or a sturdy garage
- frequently wash garbage cans and recycle containers and lids with a strong-smelling disinfectant, such as bleach
- take garbage to the dump often, if you do not have curbside pick-up
Bird feeders:
- fill bird feeders only through the winter months
- put away feeders in the spring and instead, offer birds natural alternatives (for example, flowers, nesting boxes and fresh water)
Fruits and berries:
- pick all ripe and fallen fruit from trees and shrubs on your property
- plant non-fruit bearing trees and shrubs
Pet food:
- do not leave pet food outdoors, in screened-in areas or porches
- keep your dogs on a leash
- check the yard before you let your pets out and watch them while they’re outside
- turn on yard lights at night to scan surroundings before letting your pet out after dark
Barbecue:
- burn off food residue and wash the grill right away
- empty the grease trap every time you barbecue
- remove all utensils, dishes and food after eating
- be aware that cooking odours can attract bears
Should I call 911 if I see a bear?
Not every bear sighting is an emergency situation. Here is who to call if you encounter a bear:
Non-Emergencies
Call the toll-free Bear Wise reporting line (available 24/7) at 1-866-514-2327 if a bear:
- roams around or checks garbage cans
- breaks into a shed where garbage or food is stored
- is in a tree
- pulls down a bird feeder or knocks over a barbecue
- moves through a backyard or field but does not linger
Emergencies
Call 911 or your local police if a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety and exhibits threatening or aggressive behaviour, such as:
- enters a school yard when school is in session
- stalks people and lingers at the site
- enters or tries to enter a residence
- wanders into a public gathering
- kills livestock/pets and lingers at the site
What should I do if I encounter an angry black bear?
If you find yourself in a situation with an angry or agitated bear, please follow the below instructions as laid out by the MNR.
Stop. Do not panic. Remain calm.
Generally, the noisier the bear is, the less dangerous it is, provided you do not approach. The noise is meant to “scare” you off and acts as a warning signal.
Do
- Slowly back away while keeping the bear in sight and wait for it to leave.
- Throw objects, wave your arms and make noise with a whistle, air horn or yelling if the bear does not leave.
- Prepare to use bear spray.
- Get inside a building or vehicle, if you are nearby, as a precaution.
- Drop any food you may be carrying and slowly move away.
- Leave a bear alone if it is in a tree. Leave the area. The bear will come down when it feels safe.
- Play dead only if you encounter a mother bear with cubs.
Do not
- Run, climb a tree or swim.
- Kneel down.
- Make direct eye contact.
- Approach the bear to get a better look.
- Attempt to feed a bear.
- Let your dog off its leash.
- Play dead unless you are attacked by a mother bear defending her cubs.
If a bear attacks
- Use bear spray and immediately leave the area.
- Fight back with everything you have.
- Do not play dead unless you are sure you are being attacked by a mother bear defending her cubs.
When to use self-defence
If you have tried everything possible to get a bear to leave your property and you are afraid for your safety, you have the right to protect yourself and your property. Killing a bear in self-defence must be an action of last resort.
Any action you take must be done:
- according to applicable laws (for example, local discharging a firearm by-laws)
- safely
- in the most humane way possible
You do not need a hunting licence to kill a bear in self-defence, however:
- If you kill a bear and do not intend to keep it, report it immediately to your local ministry office.
- If you kill a bear and want to keep it, you must register for a Notice of Possession immediately with the ministry.
How can I keep myself/my dog safe while walking/hiking/cycling in bear country?
Alert bears to your presence so they can avoid you. Make noise such as singing, whistling or talking while you are in areas with restricted visibility or with high background noise, such as near streams, waterfalls or on windy days.
Keep your dog on a leash when out in bear country. Be aware that unleashed dogs can cause defensive black bear attacks on people. Unleashed dogs returning to their owners can cause a chase response that may lead a bear back to the owner. Take these precautions with your dog:
- leash your dog(s) to reduce the potential of dogs harassing a black bear or of being attacked by one
- check your yards for the presence of a black bear before letting your dogs out and keep an eye on them while they are in the yard
- manage your own safety first
- if you encounter a bear, remove yourself and your pet from the area as soon as you can do so safely
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