Don't Feed the Bears

The Municipality has received multiple reports of bear activity in residential areas. While we understand residents may be tempted to feed wildlife, feeding bears is dangerous.

Reporting bear activity to Bear Wise (1-866-514-2327) is the best way to inform MNRF of the amount of sightings in the Region.

 Why Feeding Bears is a Problem

• Safety Risk: Bears that receive food from people lose their natural fear and may become bold or aggressive, putting residents at risk.
• Harm to Bears: A bear that becomes dependent on human food is more likely to be relocated or destroyed. Mother bears that become food-conditioned often teach their cubs the same behaviour, putting the next generation at risk from a very young age.
• Community Impact: Feeding encourages bears to return to neighbourhoods, leading to more complaints, damage, and potential emergencies.

What You Can Do

• Never intentionally feed bears or leave food outdoors for them.
• Secure garbage, compost, pet food, and bird seed.
• Pick ripe fruit and remove any fallen fruit from your yard.
• Call the Ontario Bear Wise reporting line (1-866-514-2327) if you see a bear lingering in your area. In emergencies where public safety is at risk, dial 911.
• Report people feeding bears to the Ontario Bear Wise reporting line (1-866-514-2327).

By working together, we can reduce bear encounters, protect public safety, and keep bears wild.