Manitoba Conservation reminds people with homes, cottages or campsites in or near bear country to be bear smart and stay safe when enjoying the outdoors.
Since May 2005, the Bear Smart program has encouraged people to voluntarily take proactive measures to reduce conflict between humans and black bears, reducing the risk to both people and bears. Fewer confrontations between the species also means fewer black bears are labelled as problem bears.
Last year, Manitoba Conservation staff received approximately 940 problem black-bear calls. Of these calls, 689 were investigated by staff who found attractants like bird feeders, garbage and compost as probable reasons why the bears came into contact with people and their property in rural areas including recreational areas. Property owners and cottagers can make a significant difference in reducing the number of bear encounters and bears that have to be euthanized by adopting some simple practices.
The key principle is the elimination or securing of all bear attractants. By doing this, bears will be deterred from approaching residences, cottages and campsites in search of food.
Individuals and property owners are encouraged to adopt and practice the following Bear Smart principles:
• Never approach or feed a bear.
• Take down all bird feeders between April and November.
• Double bag garbage and place it in a bear-resistant container, secured building or fenced area. Be sure to seal it in a way that will not allow odours to escape. When bear proofing, remember if it can be pried open with a crow bar, it’s not bear proof.
• Clean garbage containers regularly with bleach or ammonia to stop odours.
• Take garbage with you when leaving your home or cottage, or ask a neighbour to put out the garbage for you prior to pickup.
• When practical, freeze garbage in bags and put the bags in the container just before garbage pickup and not the night before.
• Do not burn garbage.
• Clean and store barbecues after each use.
• Feed pets indoors and keep food dishes indoors.
• Remove all ripened or fallen fruit in the morning and before dusk.
To reduce human-bear conflicts, traditional waste collection bins are being replaced with a bear-proof, semi-automated containment and collection system at Grand Beach Provincial Park. By converting to a semi-automated system, it is anticipated the number of human-black bear encounters in the park will be further reduced. This system will be expanded next year into the campground areas in the park but for 2009, the system is being used at seven locations in the cottage areas.
Bears are a part of the natural environment and must be respected for the potential danger they can pose to people. When in bear country, always assume there are bears around even if there have been no recent sightings or incidents.
For more details on how to be bear smart, please refer to Manitoba Conservation’s website.
