What’s going on with the bears? Micheline Mamone with the Ministry of Natural Resources was before Huntsville General Committee on September 25 to answer that question following an inordinate number of bear sightings in town.
Marmone is the provincial coordinator for human/wildlife interactions, including the Bear Wise program. She attributed the increase in bear calls this year to a lack of food in the forest, food such as acorns and beechnuts, as well as berries such as blueberries and raspberries available for bears.
“Bears really are elusive animals, and they like to stay away from humans, but bears are also driven by food, and they have to get that food in order to fatten up to survive for hibernation,” Marmone told councillors. “And if it’s not available in the forest, they start traveling widely in search of food sources, and those travels can lead them to areas of human development. And if they can find available food in those areas, then they’ll stay there and take advantage of those foods.”
Marmone said the Ministry sees significant bear-reporting swings year to year. “This year, we are seeing an increase in the amount of calls. It has been since about mid to end of August when we can surmise that the berry crops were, for the most part, done, and bears were moving on to the fall food sources,” she said. Because foods like acorns and beechnuts are not produced every year, some years are worse than others. “Those trees don’t produce crops every year, so if we had a widespread good year for acorns last year, we can assume that we are not going to have as widespread a good year for acorns this year, which is likely one of the reasons that we’re seeing an increase in calls,” said Marmone.
The graph shows the number of bear reports between 2020 and 2024; the Bracebridge office includes Huntsville.
She advised people to get educated about living, working and conducting recreational activities in bear country and learn about bear biology at www.ontario.ca/bearwise
The Ministry also has a bear reporting hotline, operated 24/7 throughout the bear season, which is from April to November. “People can call this line to both report a non-emergency encounter with a bear as well as to get tips on how to bearproof their residence or their business and manage any situations that may be happening, any non-emergent situations.”
Marmone also explained that the Ministry has a memorandum of understanding with the OPP. “The memorandum of understanding dictates rules and responsibilities for both MNR and for the police. Typically speaking, the OPP can request the assistance of the MNR during daylight hours to assist with any wildlife emergencies. So, for example, when the bears were around Spruce Glen School, the police were called, they called the MNR, and the MNR was able to come and catch the bears and relocate them out of town.” She said it is important to note that the capture and relocation of a bear is not an effective long-term management tool. “Bears can travel widely on the landscape, and even though we drive them away to natural habitat, they have this amazing ability to navigate, and adult bears, especially, can navigate back to their home range. So we have seen incidents over the years of bears that have been relocated a long way away that have been able to navigate back.”
She said the most effective strategy for reducing bear encounters in urban areas is to control the attractants—like garbage and ripe fruit on fruit trees and bird feeders. Commercial bins should have metal lids that can be locked at night, noted Marmone who explained that bears can smell food sources from significant distances.
“We really should think about restricting access to especially dumpsters from commercial food establishments,” she said, adding that best management practices for residential waste are to keep it out of reach from bears and not to put garbage out until the morning of pick up.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
As more and more new housing and retail developements are approved (mostly unafordable) they destroy bear habitat around town we should expect increased bear activity. Acorns, Beechnut, berries and other bear food sources are removed to accomodate our sprawl. Don’t blame the bears.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Respectfully, Mr. Simpson is incorrect. In-town development has had nothing to do with increased bear activity. The wet spring and summer have prevented berry growth. so the bears have come into town seeking easy to access, quick meals from dumpsters and garbage cans. Development within the existing urban boundary has not brought bears to town. That doesn’t make sense.
These bears don’t live in town and are not now suddenly being flushed out by new buildings.
Moreover, this argument doesn’t explain the bear activity in virtually every town from Huntsville to North Bay, and east to Georgian Bay.
It’s the berries…or lack thereof.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
And by “east” I mean “west” to Georgian Bay.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
I do not agree with Peter Zychowski…
I also know Algonquin Park needs to change their rules about going through the park and increase the safety of our wildlife. Lower speed limits, education of people driving through and fencing off animal access to the # 60. I remember when people had to stop before entering and speak with a park employee. It would be kind to also have an animal care facility near the park. I understand there have been approx 16 animals hit by cars in the park this year. Something has to change and look after the animals’ safety. Thank you.