Be Bear Wise To Prevent Bear Encounters

Bears waking from hibernation face a lack of natural food sources, leading them to look for food in garbage cans and bird feeders.

You can prevent bears from visiting your home and neighbourhood by:

• Storing garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids (indoors if possible)
• Waiting until pickup day to put out garbage
• Taking away bird feeders for the spring and summer (you can offer birds natural alternatives, such as flowers, nesting boxes and fresh water)
• Cleaning food residue and grease from outdoor barbecue grills – including grease traps – after each use
• Keeping pet food indoors

Bears entering your community are not necessarily a threat, but it is important to know who to call if you encounter one. The province operates a non-emergency, toll-free Bear Wise reporting line (1-866-514-2327). The line is open 24/7 from April 1 to November 30.

If a bear is posing an immediate threat by showing threatening or aggressive behaviour, remain calm and call 911 or your local police department.

• Visit Bear Wise to learn more about how to avoid attracting bears and what to do if you encounter one.
• Bears will remember their last source of food and return there when hungry, sometimes travelling over 100 kilometres.