Police have contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources and is aware of the bear sighting. They advised residents to go to the Ontario.ca website and look up “Bear Wise” You will locate some useful tips and information regarding spotting a bear and what to do.
If you encounter a black bear
When bears are caught off guard, they are stressed, and usually just want to flee.
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.
- If the bear does not leave, throw objects, wave your arms and make noise with a whistle or air horn. Bang pots and pans together to scare it off.
- Prepare to use bear spray.
- If you are near a building or vehicle get inside as a precaution.
Do not:
- Run, climb a tree or swim — a bear can do these things much better than you
- Kneel down
- Make direct eye contact
Call 911 or your local police if a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety and exhibits threatening or aggressive behaviour, such as:
- 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
Police will respond first to an emergency situation, but may request assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.The contact number for the Ministry is 1-866-514-2327 for reported sightings.
The last area the bear was located was Dana/Windsor area, it’s possible its moving to the MAC Johnson park.
