Black bear warning in the White Bay and Baie Verte Peninsula areas

Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale is encouraging people to not leave garbage on their property and to not approach a black bear after receiving reports of a significant number of black bears within communities in the White Bay and Baie Verte Peninsula areas.

Conservation officers are monitoring the situation in these communities and have trapped and relocated three bears in the Jackson�s Arm, Sop�s Arm and Pollard�s Point areas. In the last two weeks, the department has received over 30 complaints about black bears in and near these communities.

"The continued presence of black bears in these communities has become a significant threat to public safety," Minister Dunderdale said. "Unfortunately the trapping and relocation of bears has not seemed to alleviate the situation. Our conservation officers will ensure public safety remains the top priority as they continue to attempt to relocate the animals."

Residents are asked to store all garbage inside until properly disposed of in order to avoid attracting bears into a community where they can become a serious risk to public safety. People should also avoid any contact with bears as it is in everyone's best interest for a bear to retain its natural fear of humans so they do not enter communities.

The department has received reports in the last two weeks of bears coming in very close contact with people. In one incident, a resident of Sop�s Arm found four black bears on his patio. Others have reported bears getting into garbage.

"Bears are beautiful animals and fascinating to watch, but they are wild animals and people need to take the appropriate measures to not attract bears into communities or attempt to befriend them," the minister said. "The best place for bears for all concerned is in the wild away from humans. A bear that loses its fear of humans is a threat to public safety and may unfortunately have to be destroyed, which we want to avoid."

If anyone encounters a bear, they should:

back away slowly while watching the bear and waiting for it to leave;

if you are near a building or vehicle, get inside;

remove any food or garbage that may have attracted the bear to discourage it from returning.

Bear sightings can be reported to the Department of Natural Resources at (709) 482-2325 or 637-2370.

Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications, (709) 729-5282, 690-1703

2006 09 08                                            12:15 p.m.