Letter: Some considerations when setting policy to deal with bears – and people

There has been much said of late regarding our bears – not exactly the predatory carnivorous grizzly or Polar bear types, but our smaller omnivorous brown or black bears.

Of course, bears are attracted to human food waste and garbage, especially when berries and other foods are scarce. Bears are smarter than the humans who put their garbage out overnight, leave their barbecues open, and persist in maintaining full bird feeder.

Bears, like crows, racoons and other critters, know what day is garbage day in any community. Too many people are not smart enough to realize the rules/laws.

Simple solutions:

-Have the municipality use automatic garbage and compost pickup using bins. This is used in Timmins and other places to good effect. Abandon the use of garbage bags completely, good environmental sense, too.

-Never place your garbage out too early or overnight.

-Never, never have bird feeders during the summer/fall months.

-Consider fencing or isolating community areas where bears might be attracted – keep the bears out, but allow the people to live normally.

-An idea offered by a local animal activist: When there is a shortage of food for the bears or even when the bears figure that people places are easy picking, distribute bear tasty food (by helicopter maybe) in isolated areas away from people. This may prove far cheaper than having police and conservation officers spend hours attending and dealing with bear complaints.

-Of similar importance is bear education (educating people about bears that is). This should be offered at schools and clubs. Simply when you encounter a bear, stand still. Then assess the situation and make yourself look big (make no noise). Back away slowly to a safe area, but keep facing the bear. If the bear approaches or charges, stand still – it is only bluffing. It is pointless running from a bear or even climbing a tree, because they can do both better than any human.

Note: According to statistics in Ontario, there has only been seven reported fatalities involving bears since 1916. Not bad going considering the relative dangers of just living. Consider the statistics involving drunk driving, firearms, house fires, drowning, police shootings and lightning strikes, not to mention dogs and food poisoning from contaminated wells and commercial food plants.

So maybe everyone can address the issue from the standpoint of logic. Be comforted in the knowledge that humans are not part of a bear’s food chain – garbage tastes better. Don’t bother a bear and it won’t bother you.

Lionel Rudd
Sudbury