The Thunder Bay Police Service has received a handful of bear calls in the month of April. These situations where resolved quickly with the bears returning to the surrounding bush.
Citizens are to call 911 should an encounter with a bear become a safety concern. Officer will be dispatched to assess the situation and determine the best steps required for public safety. Non-emergency encounters or sightings are to be reported to the MNR Bear Wise program at 1-866-514-2327 .
The TBPS and local MNR representatives have been in discussion to determine how best to resolve incidents where a nuisance or aggressive bear may be reported or encountered. Both agencies will continue to monitor incidents as they reported.
Residents are encouraged to take the necessary steps to prevent bear encounters. The MNR Bear Wise program outlines this information: https://www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise
TBPS & MNR joint PSA - https://youtu.be/liUCl56Tbck