The Township of Georgian Bluffs says with increased wildlife activity reported this spring, including recent coyote and bear sightings, they are reminding everyone to stay aware and take precautions to reduce conflicts with wildlife.
Riel Warrilow, Environmental Initiatives Officer with the Township says, “Wildlife sightings are common in Georgian Bluffs, especially during the spring when animals are more active searching for food, establishing territories, and caring for their young,”
While the Township has not outlined any specific encounters, Bayshore Broadcasting News reached out to the Ministry of Natural Resources about a social media mention of a bear encounter on Girl Guide Road in Georgian Bluffs.
A ministry representative says, “The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) was made aware that on May 21st, a person walking their dog encountered a bear and sustained minor injuries. The dog was found unharmed, and the bear left the area immediately and did not display ongoing aggressive behaviour.”
They say, “MNR staff responded and attempted to locate the bear over the weekend but were unsuccessful. It is believed the bear has since left the area.”
The Ministry says, “In bear country, dogs should be kept on a leash. Unleashed dogs may approach and provoke bears, which can trigger defensive behaviour toward the dog or its owner.”
They add, “If a bear poses an immediate threat to public safety by exhibiting threatening or aggressive behaviour, call 911. Visit ontario.ca/bearwise to learn more about how to avoid attracting bears and what to do if you encounter one.” Warrilow adds, “You can help keep people, pets, and wildlife safe by taking simple steps to avoid attracting animals into residential areas.”
Meanwhile, Georgian Bluffs has provided some tips:
-You are most likely to encounter wildlife during the early morning, late evening, or overnight hours.
-You can help reduce unwanted wildlife encounters by:
-Keeping garbage, compost, and recycling secured.
-Storing pet food indoors and cleaning up bird seed or fallen fruit from yards and gardens.
-Never feeding wildlife.
-Supervising pets when outdoors, following leash laws, and always keeping pets under control.
-Giving wildlife plenty of space and never approaching or attempting to interact with wild animals.
They say, if you encounter a coyote or bear, stay calm, keep your distance, and slowly back away. Make yourself appear large, make noise, and never run. Bears and coyotes generally avoid humans, but may act unpredictably if they feel threatened or are protecting food or young.
You can report bear sightings to the Province’s Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327 when there is a non-emergency concern about a bear. If a wild animal poses an immediate threat to public safety, contact the OPP at 519-794-7827 or call 911 in an emergency.