The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry want to make sure you’re being “Bear Wise” if you’re coming up to the Cottage for the weekend.
Jolanta Kowalski, the Senior Media Relations Officer for Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, says Bears usually avoid humans. What attracts them is food. They will often go out of their way to find food if they smell it. If they know they can find food in a certain spot, they will keep coming back.
Kowalski says that by doing things like putting your garbage out the morning off collection day instead of the night before, only filling bird feeders in the Winter and making sure the Barbecue is always clean you can protect yourself from Bears.
If you’re going for a hike, always keep your head up and stay alert. Kowalski adds not to wear things like music headphones so you’re not distracted. It’s a good idea to make sure you’re with a group of people and are making noise. She says, “keep your eyes and your ears open.”
If you want to learn more about Bear safety, then go to Ontario’s Bear Wise information page here.