Received today from the MNRF:
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Thank you again for the productive call this past Friday and for your willingness to collaborate with us on outreach and education to reduce the likelihood of human-bear conflict.
I am writing this morning to provide an update on bear activity reported to MNRF and on our trapping efforts since we spoke Friday afternoon. As of setting the trap on Thursday, June 25th, MNRF has not received any new reports of activity in the area around Drag Lake that can be linked to the bear associated with the vehicle break-ins and damage last week.
After 4 nights with the trap set, the Ministry would have a harder time determining if we caught the right bear and we also need to consider the risk of attracting additional bears to the area with the trap bait if we were to leave it set. Without new reports in the area since Wednesday night, we do not have justification to relocate the trap to a new location. MNRF staff are currently removing the trap this morning and will continue to closely monitor the situation for new reports, and work with our partners on outreach and education.
As a reminder:
- If a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety and exhibits threatening or aggressive behavior, you should call OPP.
- Not every bear sighting is an emergency situation. If you see a bear and it is not a threat, you can report it to the Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327. This line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April to November.
- For more information on being bear wise, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise