Police and MNRF staff could find no sign of a bear cub, after it was hit by a car on the back road between Timmins and South Porcupine Wednesday morning. Witnesses say the mother then dragged it back into the bush.
MNRF regional outreach specialist Karen Passmore says because they weren’t found, no one can say whether the cub survived.
“Timmins is surrounded by forests, so drivers, cyclists and pedestrians should always be on the lookout for bears, moose and other wildlife,” Passmore advises. “We recommend that people carry a whistle or an air horn while walking in wooded areas and also travel in groups.”
That brings up the question of whether you should let a blast on that whistle or horn go off every few minutes even if you don’t see any animals.
“I don’t think that would be a bad thing,” Passmore comments.
It’s also impossible to know whether the mother would be more aggressive towards humans, depending on whether the cub is dead or just injured.
So the usual safety advice applies.
“If you encounter a bear, never turn your back on the bear, never run from a bear, never climb a tree or swim to get away from the bear,” says Passmore. “You need to back away slowly, get inside your house or vehicle if possible.”
She adds that you should keep your dog on a leash in a wooded area… because it will typically get the bear to come back your way.