News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  

Natural Resources
September 18, 2007

Public Advisory: Province Encourages Public to Take Steps
to Reduce Risk of Bear Encounters

The Department of Natural Resources is encouraging people not to leave garbage on their properties or to approach black bears. The department has received numerous reports of the animals in or near several communities in the province.

Municipalities and the public are reminded to take appropriate measures to avoid bears including properly storing, collecting and disposing of garbage. These measures are key

to reducing the potential for conflict between bears and people. Bears are always looking for an easy food source and, upon finding one, continue to seek it out. Bears that lose their fear of humans and communities are a threat to public safety and may have to be destroyed.

Conservation officers with the Department of Natural Resources have been actively trapping and relocating bears. Public safety remains their top priority as they continue to monitor black bear sightings.

Anyone who encounters a bear should:

  • Remain calm;
  • Speak loudly, but calmly to keep the animal at a distance;
  • Give the bear space;
  • Back away slowly while watching the bear and waiting for it to leave
  • Avoid direct eye contact; and,
  • If you are near a building or vehicle, get inside.

Always be extremely cautious around a female bear with cubs as the mother may become aggressive in protecting her young. After a black bear encounter or sighting, remove any food or garbage that may have attracted the animal to discourage it from returning.

Bear sightings should be reported to your local Forestry and Wildlife Office. Office locations and contact information are available at the Department of Natural Resources Web site - www.nr.gov.nl.ca/forestry/contact.

- 30 -

Media contact:
Corey Snook
Communications and Marketing Manager
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5777, 728-2837

coreysnook@gov.nl.ca

2007 09 18                                        2:50 p.m.

 


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement