(from MNR pages please visit for complete information about this program)

Bear Update -May 2009:

      MNR reporting that from information gathered sows may be forcing sub adult offspring out of their home ranges slightly earlier than usual for Eastern Ontario. Over the next 3-4 weeks there may be a peak in young bears 100-150 lbs. They are easily scared off by loud noises or will tree readily. If they go into a tree ensure they have a safe escape route and leave the immediate area as the bear will eventually come down and leave. They will be attracted to non natural food sources so ensure that garbage and BBQ’s are secured. Bears have been reported/sighted throughout Lanark County. Of significant note was a bear observed near St.John H.S and the Links O Tay Golf Course in Perth.

      Closer to Farren Lake, in late April, a large bear was sighted off Lane 22 (pictures available on request). More recently, in late May, another sighting was reported on Featherston Lane.

Bear Wise - What You Should Know About Black Bears

Black bears are not normally dangerous animals. They are, however, opportunistic omnivores. In other words, they will eat practically anything that is easy to get at. Admire them. Respect them. But please, don't feed them.

  • Black bears are large, powerful animals. Adult males can weigh between 120-280 kg (250-600 lbs). Adult females can weigh between 45-180 kg (100-400 lbs)
  • Black bears are actively feeding from mid-April to late fall in most parts of the province
  • Black bears feed mainly on summer berry crops such as raspberries and blueberries, as well as mountain ash acorns and beech nuts in the fall
  • In late summer and early fall some bears actively feed for 20 hours a day, ingesting as much as 20,000 calories
  • During the summer bears typically double their body weight while preparing for winter hibernation
  • If natural foods are not readily available, black bears will travel up to 100 km to find other food - primarily your garbage
  • Once they know where to find a non-natural food source they will return again and again
In northern Ontario, most black bears move into their winter dens by mid-October. In central Ontario, bears usually enter their dens by early November

(download PDF document)

Bear Wise - What Cottagers Can Do

Most problems between bears and humans occur when black bears are attracted by the smell of food or garbage. When their keen noses pick up the scent, bears will venture onto cottage properties to forage for an easy meal. Here are tips to help avoid these unwanted visitors.

  • If you have garbage collection, put garbage out on the morning of garbage day, and not the night before
  • Do not leave pet food outdoors
  • Thoroughly clean outdoor barbecue grills after use
  • Fill bird feeders only through the winter months
  • Do not put meat, fish or sweet food (including fruit) in your composter
  • Keep meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day
  • Pick all ripe fruit off trees, and remove vegetables and fallen fruit from the ground
Use electric fencing to protect valuable trees, orchards, vegetable and berry patches

(download PDF document)

Bear Wise - What To Do If You Encounter a Bear

Bears are normally shy of humans and quickly get out of our way when they see us. There are a number of things you can do if you spot a bear on a trail or one enters your campsite or yard.

  • Do not approach the bear to get a better look. Slowly back away while watching the bear and wait for it to leave.
  • If you are near a building or car, get inside it as a precaution. If the bear was attracted to food or garbage, make sure it is removed after the bear leaves to discourage the bear from returning.
  • It is important to keep dogs away from a bear. While a well-trained dog may deter a bear, a poorly trained one may only excite it resulting in the bear following the dog back to its owner.
  • If a bear is in a tree, leave it alone. Remove people and dogs from the area. The bear will usually come down and leave when it feels safe.

If a bear is trying to get at food in your yard or campsite (and a building or a car is not within reach) or if a bear tries to approach you, here is how you should react:

  • Stop. Face the bear. Do not run. If you are with others, stay together and act as a group. Make sure that the bear has a clear escape route, then yell and wave your arms to make yourself look bigger. Use a whistle or airhorn if you have one. The idea is to be aggressive and to persuade the bear to leave. This will work if the bear is still partly afraid of humans.
  • If these attempts fail to frighten the bear away, slowly back away watching the bear and giving it a wide berth.
  • Climbing a tree to get away from a bear may offer you little advantage as black bears are excellent tree climbers.
  • A bear may stand upright to get a better view, make huffing or "popping" sounds, swat or beat the ground with its forepaws or even bluff charge. These are a bear's way of telling you that you are too close. Back off and give the bear more space. If the bear comes within range, use pepper spray if you have it.

Bear Wise - How to Recognize a Potentially Dangerous Encounter

Injuries by black bears are rare, but can occur in the following situations:

Cornered bears

Black bears may become anxious or annoyed if they are crowded by people or dogs, or if intently focused on a food source. These bears will generally give many warning signs (they may make huffing or "popping" sounds, swat or beat the ground with their forepaws or even bluff charge) to let you know that you are too close.

Mother bears protecting their young

Mother bears are rarely aggressive towards humans but they are protective of their cubs. Do not test this by intentionally approaching cubs or knowingly getting between them and their mother. The mother bear will generally give you many warning signs to let you know that you are too close.

Predatory black bears

On EXTREMELY RARE occasions, black bears (usually adult males) have attacked humans with the intent to kill and eat them. This has happened about 40 times in the last century in North America (six incidents in Ontario). By comparison, many more people have been killed by lightning, dogs, and bee stings. Predatory black bears may not make huffing or "popping" sounds, swat or beat the ground with their forepaws or perform bluff charges. Instead, they may press closer and closer to their intended prey assessing whether it is safe to attack.

Here is what to do if you find yourself in one of these situations.

  • Slowly back away, watching the bear.
  • If the bear tries to approach you, stop. Be aggressive, yell, throw rocks or sticks and use pepper spray if you have it. NEVER TURN AND RUN.
  • If the bear continues to approach you, resume backing away slowly while continuing to be aggressive towards the bear.
  • If a bear makes contact with you, DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Fighting back is the best chance of persuading a black bear to stop its attack. Use a large stick, a rock or anything else that you have on hand to hurt the bear.

IN AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY: contact your local police force or dial 911

TO REPORT BEAR PROBLEMS: contact the Bear Reporting Line at
1-866-514-BEAR (2327) (TTY) 705 945-7641

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE BEAR MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: contact your local MNR office