More bears are making their way into the city.
The Timmins Police Service says as of Friday, officers responded to four calls of bears in residential areas. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Outreach Specialist Karen Passmore says this is the time of year when bears are on the hunt for food.
The MNRF and TPS are reminding you to make sure all you:
- Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids
- Put out garbage only on the morning of pickup
- Clean all food residue and grease from outdoor barbecue grills after each use
- Keep pet food indoors
This will help keep the bears away from residential areas. Passmore says bears will remember the last place they ate and will go back.
She says if you see a bear in your neighbourhood, you should report it. For non-emergencies, like a bear wondering around a yard or fishing through garbage, you can call the Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327. For emergencies like a bear becoming aggressive or being a potential threat to public safety, you can call 9-1-1.