Full Notification

Bear Safety

Bears may be encountered throughout many areas during the summer months. Bears are not tame, gentle or cuddly; they are unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

Although most bears are simply travelling through and make every effort to avoid humans, a bag of garbage or some unattended food on a picnic table may be irresistible to their keen sense of smell.

Don't be a contributor to food-conditioning.

Bears that scavenge food begin to associate food with humans, and become "food-conditioned." Food-conditioned bears lose their natural fear of humans and become a threat to neighborhoods as they roam through the area in search of an easy meal.

There is little or no chance of correcting a food-conditioned bear and Law Enforcement Officers are forced to destroy them when they become aggressive towards humans.

At this time the Department of Natural Resources has advised to allow the bear to return to the woods. If sighted do not approach and dial 911.