Public Advisory: Residents of Glovertown Advised to Take Precautions in Light of Bear Sightings

The Department of Environment and Conservation is warning the public about the presence of bears in the Town of Glovertown.

Due to recent sightings, residents are encouraged to take appropriate steps to avoid attracting bears into the community and backyards, where the animals can pose a risk to public safety. Residents are advised to properly store, collect and dispose of garbage and to refrain from storing garbage in outside containers until collection day.

In areas where the likelihood of bear encounters is high, residents should remember the following:

• Never leave food, pet food, bottles, pop cans, or food containers outside;
• Store food, garbage, coolers, camp stoves, and pots and pans in you shed, cabin, or vehicle;
• Harvest fruit from fruit trees when ripe. Consider planting non-fruit trees;
• Keep dairy products and meat out of compost piles;
• Clean barbeque grills after use to minimize odour;
• Bird feeders attract bears. Remove bird feeders from your yard in April and replace them in November.

Research has shown that individual bears use human-based food sources to supplement regular feeding patterns and not as a primary source of nutrition. Additionally, most bears remain highly cautious of human presence and are easily scared away.

Once a bear becomes used to humans its behavior may become unpredictable or aggressive. Reducing the presence of items around a residence minimizes the likelihood of bear encounters and the possibility of bears becoming used to humans. It is the responsibility of all residents to ensure they remove any items around their properties that can attract bears.

Anyone sighting a bear is asked to please contact the Department of Natural Resources, Gambo District Standby Conservation Officer at 709-674-1521.

The public is also advised that it is illegal to shoot bears without having the appropriate licence and only during prescribed seasons. Hunters are asked to note that under section 111 of the Wildlife Regulations, it is illegal to discharge a firearm within 1,000 metres of a school, playground or athletic field or within 300 metres of a dwelling.

For further information on black bear management, harvest, and living with black bears please see the Wildlife Division publications located at: www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/publications/wildlife/index.html.

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Media contacts:
Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca 

2012 08 24                         3:00 p.m.