Reflections from Crumbly Acres: Be Bear Wise

July 15, 2017
I'd put the feeders out again. Duh.
They went swiftly away.

I attended an information session created by the Otty Lake Association. It was led by Trevor Horvatin, wildlife technician, with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

Two bears were shot near Otty Lake, and some residents wanted information. I have been documenting the incidents. We regularly have bears on our trailcam. This year, we've had several through the yard, in daylight.

Black Bear Biology

Active April to Nov., in between they are not eating, drinking, or defecating.
Active 20 hours a day. They are black and get hot in the day, too. Dawn and dusk are more likely times to spot them.
In our area, they estimate about 40 - 60 bears per 100 km. (I've spotted at least 4 different bears, momma with 2 cub, and a 2-year-old.)
They primarily insects, nuts, and are more herbivores that omnivores. They need 20,000 calories a day.
Humans must manage attractants.
Do not feed them. Full stop.
Keep garbage in shed. No composters. (Mine's been knocked over twice. I gave up.)
Do not put out feeders. Birds don't need it, as you are artificially elevating population. Clean BBQ. Don't leave water: raccoons carry disease.
Must commit as a community. If one person feeds animals, the bears will habituate.

Regarding humans and bears: they don't see people as a food source, unlike Northern bears, who might. They only associate our habitats with food. Walking in the forest, be loud. Act like a big, loud human. (I sing!)

Four possible responses by Ontario MNR:

1. Educate resident near the incdiet(s): Get rid of attractants, put away garbage, etc.
2. Scare them away, (i.e, fire crackers, marine sirens, rubber bullets).
3. Relocate: However, Trevor once moved bear 3-hour drive, and he was back in a few months in Kemptville.
4. Kill it.

May 13th

"A fed bear is a dead bear."

If your property is cleaner than your neighbours, you're likely not to have a problem, they might just pass through your property to theirs.

1. Use deterrents. Noise, fire crackers (if wet weather). If walking: take bear spray.
2. Be persistent: every time you see them, scare them away.
3. Be alert and aware. If you put dog out at night, for example, check the yard.

July 15th – He's was back at the feeder!

Bear behaviour

Defensive: huffing, jaw popping, no eye contact, bluff charge, weaving head to and fro.

Curious: ears up, standing, sniffing, circling. just trying it get down wind? Their vision is decent, but not fantastic.

Aggressive: ears back, direct approach to human, physical contact, use deterrents.

Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, S.O. 1992, c. 41

May 13th, 2017

31. if a person believes on reasonable grounds that wildlife is damaging or is about to damage the person's property, may, on the person's land, can harass it, or capture and kill it.
It must be on your land, not on neighbour's land, unless you have an agreement with them under the Common Law Statute.
This does not absolve you from city or local bylaws, for example. Ottawa's 'No discharge' bylaw precludes this.