As the chilly winds of autumn sweep across the City of Greater Sudbury, bear sightings have gradually been on the rise. Erika Schieman, in the southern part of the city at the Moonglow subdivision, encountered and photographed a large black bear prowling through her neighborhood early Tuesday morning.
Schieman raised the alarm, expressing concern for the children who would soon be waiting for their school buses across the street. The bear ambled across her driveway, approaching as far as her garage on Crater Crescent and Moonrock, shortly after 8 a.m.
Sudbury city officials, through their curated report-a-bear map, provide an overview of reported bear sightings within the city’s limits. As of Tuesday morning, most sightings listed are a few days old, with only two new reports registered within the week.
Though it may be alarming, seeing a bear around town isn’t an automatic emergency, reminds Ontario’s Bear Wise program. Residents should call 911 or the police only when a bear poses an immediate, tangible threat. Situations warranting an emergency call include a bear entering a schoolyard during school hours, persistently stalking humans, attempting to infiltrate a residence, invading a public gathering or killing livestock or pets and refusing to leave.
In non-emergency encounters, such as a bear rummaging through garbage bins, breaking into food sheds, lurking in trees, damaging bird feeders or barbeque grills, or traversing backyards without lingering, reports should be made to 1-866-514-2327.
Dog owners have been advised to leash their pets. Unleashed dogs can provoke defensive attacks from black bears and possibly lead them back to the owners.
For anyone seeking additional advice on safeguarding oneself from bears, the Bear Wise program provides several practical tips and strategies. This underscores the importance of community awareness and active responsiveness to ensure public safety.
