Bears Sighted In The Chapleau/Wawa Areas
Ontario is
asking area residents to be aware of bear sightings in the municipalities of
Chapleau and Wawa to take the necessary steps to avoid attracting bears into
local neighbourhoods.
In the past
few weeks, people in the Chapleau and Wawa areas have reported numerous
interactions with black bears. Of these reported incidents, some involved items
such as household garbage, poultry food and crab apple trees.
Currently,
natural foods for bears in the Chapleau and Wawa areas are very low. When the
availability of natural foods is limited, bears will look for alternative food
sources, often in communities. When bears cannot gain access to non-natural
foods such as garbage, they will not stay in the area.
QUICK
FACTS
- If
a bear poses an immediate threat to public safety by exhibiting
threatening or aggressive behaviour, call 911 or your local police at
705-864-1715 for Chapleau and 705-856-2233 for Wawa.
- For
advice on removing bear attractants, call the Bear Wise reporting line
toll-free at 1-866-514-2327, Hearing Impaired (TTY) 1-705-945-7641. You
will be connected with a live operator during bear season (April 1 to
November 30).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- What to do in emergency and non-emergency situations: https://www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise
.
- Read more about bears at ontario.ca/bearwise.