Now the good weather has arrived, a lot of people in Grey, Bruce, Huron and Simcoe Counties are getting out into the country side to enjoy the great outdoors.
When they go into the woods, they should be aware they won’t be alone.
They should remember they are in bear country.
There have been numerous black bear sightings over the past few weeks, with one serious attack on an Orillia area man, and a bear charging another man on an ATV in Severn Township
Ministry of Natural Resources Bear Wise Program official Dorne Ritchie says since April first they have received reports of more than 39 bear sightings.
He says if you are in a wilderness area, it is not unusual to spot a black bear, especially on the Bruce Peninsula where he says there is a very healthy bear population.
Ritchie says to avoid any encounter with a bear while hiking, travel in a group, make lots of noise and be aware of your surroundings.
He says if you do spot a bear, but it hasn’t see you, then back away very slowly, with out making any noise.
Ritchie says if the bear has spotted you never run away, but rather stand your ground and make yourself as large as possible making lots of noise to try and intimidate the animal.
He says dominance is one of the key elements of the bears social structure and if you act dominant, most times the bear will back down and move away.
Ritchie says many of the bear sightings in the Sauble Beach Saugeen Shores area are young animals that have been forced out of the Bruce Peninsula by older bears defending their territory.
He says these animals follow the Lake Huron Shoreline looking for a area where they can establish their own territory.