Good advice for avoiding bears

We haven’t seen any bears around our cottage this year, but there was much discussion about the bruins with our guests last week—mostly to assure them that they were safe (the guests, not the bears). Then yesterday, Patrick Walsh, the editor of Outdoor Canada,  forwarded me a Ministry of Natural Resources fact sheet about avoiding bears at the cottage. You’ve heard it before, but it bears (!) repeating. Thanks to the MNR for the following:

Most problems between black bears and humans occur when bears are attracted by the smell of and rewarded with an easy meal. When bears pick up a scent with their keen noses, they will investigate it – even at your cottage. If bears are rewarded with feasts of bird food, garbage or pet food, they will return as long as the food source is available. It takes all cottagers working together to eliminate these attractants and to stop bear problems. Here are some tips to help avoid these unwanted visitors.

What cottagers can do:

• Fill bird feeders only through the winter months.
• Never purposely feed bears (or other wildlife) or try to approach them.
• Put garbage in containers that have tight fitting lids, and only put it out on garbage day, not the night before.
• Store garbage in a bear-resistant container, secure shed, or garage. Do not store garbage in plywood boxes, old freezers, or vehicles.
• Do not stockpile garbage. Take it to the dump frequently.
• Never leave garbage behind. If you must leave before garbage day, or if you do not have curbside pick up, take your garbage with you when you go. Take it to the dump or to your home.
• Keep meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day.
• Remove grease and food residue from barbecue grills, including the grease cup underneath, after each use.
• Do not put meat, fish, or sweet food (including fruit) in your composter.
• Pick all ripe fruit off trees, and remove vegetables and fallen fruit from the ground.
• Encourage your neighbours to practice good Bear Wise habits.
• If you rent your cottage, tell your tenants the importance of being Bear Wise.

Before you go:

• Remove your garbage. Take it home or drop it off at the dump on your way out.
• Use a strong disinfectant to eliminate all odours from garbage and recycling containers and lids.
• Never discard cooking grease outside. Instead, place it in a container with a lid, transfer it to a plastic bag, and put in with other properly stored garbage.
• Take your barbecue with you when you leave the cottage, or store it in a secure shed. Make sure it is clean.
• Do not leave any food or food scraps outdoors for pets or other wildlife.
• When packing up, remember to remove all the food from the inside of your cottage – a box of pudding or fruit-flavoured dessert mix may be all it takes to attract the bear.
• Do not leave scented products outside. Even non-food items like suntan lotion, insect repellent, soap, and candles may attract bears. (This surprised me/ PC)
  
• Close and lock all windows and doors.
• If you are away for an extended period of time, have a neighbour or someone in the area occasionally do a walk around to look for signs of a bear visitor or break in. Let the person know where and how to contact you.

What to do if you encounter a bear:

• If the bear is not paying any attention to you, slowly and quietly back away while watching the bear to make sure it isn’t following you.
• Do not approach the bear to get a better look.
• If the bear obviously knows you are there, raise your arms to let the bear know you are a human. Make yourself look as big as possible.
• Speak in a firm but non-threatening voice while looking at the bear and backing away.
• Watch the bear to gauge its reaction to you. Generally, the noisier the bear is, the less dangerous it is, providing you don’t approach the bear. If a bear huffs, pops its jaw or stomps its paws on the ground, it wants you to back away and give it space.
• If a bear closely approaches you, drop any food you are carrying and continue backing up.
• If the bear continues to approach, stand your ground and be aggressive – use your whistle or air horn, yell, stand tall, wave your arms and throw objects.
• If a bear keeps advancing and is getting close, continue to stand your ground. Use your bear spray and anything else to threaten or distract the bear – bears will often first test to see if it is safe to approach you.
• Do not run or climb a tree. Bears can run faster and climb better than you.
• If the bear makes contact, fight back with everything you have.
• In a life-threatening emergency, call your local police or 911.