Department seeking public cooperation to address black bear concerns

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking the support of the general public to address the sharp increase in the number of black bears infringing on populated areas located throughout Forest Management Districts 2 and 3 which encompass the Bonavista and Burin Peninsulas.

Over the past several weeks conservation officers have been inundated with telephone calls from concerned residents from 20 different communities. In addition, calls have been received from schools and hotel operators reporting the presence of bears near their property.

Conservation officers have been working diligently to address the problems by making the public aware of issues surrounding bear management and working with local waste management committees to control disturbance of bears at dump sites, which often act as a food source attracting the bears closer to communities. Officers have also been engaged in the live trapping of bears. To date, five black bears have been trapped and re-located within Forest Management District 2 and 3. To help address the problem two new culvert traps are being constructed and will soon be deployed in the area.

While conservation officers have been attempting to address the problem, the large volume of black bear complaints is posing a challenge as it is difficult to address each call as quickly as they would like. Accordingly, department officials are also seeking the support of the general public to help mitigate the problem as the matter cannot be addressed solely through live trapping and relocation.

As bears are drawn to communities in search of anything they consider food, conservation officers are encouraging the public to take action to remove anything that may attract bears regardless of how small it may be. Preventative steps that people can take include:

• Keeping all garbage inside until just prior to pick up;
• Storing all pet food and containers inside;
• Not composting household scraps such as dairy products, meats, fish and other food items;
• Storing barbeques inside;
• Promptly harvesting fruits, berries and vegetables growing on or near their property.

The public are reminded if they should encounter a bear they should remain calm, keep talking and slowly back away from the animal, giving it space. Never run and always avoid direct eye contact which may be taken as a challenge to the bear. Since bears have a strong maternal instinct, be extremely cautious around a female with cubs.

All bear encounters and sightings should be reported to the nearest office of the Department of Natural Resources. Any bear sightings in the problem areas identified in Forest Management Districts 2 and 3 should be reported to the Clarenville Forest Management District office at (709) 466- 1427.

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-5282, 685-4624

2005 06 30                       12:10 p.m.