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More than 2,000 bear sightings reported in Sudbury, Ont.

File photo

File photo


Cheryl Santa Maria
Digital Reporter

Tuesday, October 13, 2015, 4:44 PM - Bear sightings are way up in Sudbury, Ont. On Monday, it was revealed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNR) received 2,200 sightings around the city and an additional 1,700 bear complaints, four times the amount of reports received last summer.

The problem has become so pronounced that officials have set up a committee to deal with the black bears, also referred to as "nuisance bears".

The committee formed last month. So far, it has met three times, the Canadian Press reports.


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No bear-related injuries have been reported in Sudbury this year but councilor Al Sizer, who is a member of the bear committee, says the large bear population doesn't come without its risks.

"You don't know what kind of a day the bear's having," Sizer tells the Canadian Press.

"I mean, if it's having a toothache and it encounters somebody, it may not be real friendly."

According to Sizer, Sudbury received close to half of Ontario's complaints regarding nuisance bears this summer.

POOR BERRY CROP PART OF THE PROBLEM

Blueberry crops have been poor in parts of southern Ontario this year, forcing bears to venture into the city to look for alternate food sources.

“Parts of Ontario are experiencing shortages of natural food sources for bears. Sudbury is experiencing berry crop shortage,” the MNR says in a statement released in August.

“Human-bear activity is directly related to the availability of natural foods. Given the current food situation, Sudbury is seeing an increase in reports of problem bears as bears search for alternate sources of food.”

BEAR COMPLAINTS DRAINING RESOURCES

Sudbury Staff Sgt. Craig Maki tells the Canadian Press police only dispatch officers when they feel public safety is at risk. 

Police have had to personally respond to bear complaints 500 times this year, using up 225 hours of police time.


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Eight bears had to be killed.

Black bears typically start searching for a hibernation den in the winter, so officials are hoping the complaints will slow down in the weeks to come.

Source: The Canadian Press

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