THUNDER BAY - While black bears may appear threatening because of their large size, the actual threat they pose is not always clear to some people. Thunder Bay Police and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry are hoping to clarify when a bear is a threat and when it is not.
Thunder Bay Police Service, in collaboration with the MNRF’s Bear Wise program, have created a video on social media to educate the public on when to call 911 and when to call Bear Wise when encountering black bears.
“The video was produced in an effort to educate the public in the responsibility of reporting bear sightings and bear problems,” said Thunder Bay Police Service Sgt. Derek West. “We all want to make sure the call goes to the right place. Police have to respond to a number of other different priorities.”
According to the video, 911 should be called if a bear is seen exhibiting threatening behavior, which may include entering a school yard, stalking people, lingering at a site, entering a residence, wandering into a public gathering or killing livestock or pets.
“If you phone the police and it is an emergency situation, we will come out,” West said. “We have to assess the situation first. If public safety is at risk, we will try to make sure the area is safe and we will have the MNRF come out and then they will tranquilize the bear if possible. If safety is really an issue, at times the bear has to be destroyed.”
However, if a bear does not appear to be a threat and is merely roaming, checking garbage cans, breaking into a shed, in a tree, pulling down a bird feeder, knocking over a barbeque, or just moving through a yard or field, people are asked to call Bear Wise at 1-866-514-2327.
West said every year police receive calls about bears, but not all the calls turn out to be an actual emergency.
“A lot of times the bear is gone,” he said. “So that is a perfect example of where it wasn’t an emergency. It’s afraid of people, so normally it is going to go back to the forest areas. It is just looking for food.”
If one does encounter a bear, West advises them to keep their distance and go inside if possible. He said it is OK to tell someone about it and one can call Bear Wise or, if threatened, call 911. The video is available on the Thunder Bay Police Service Facebook page.
