2025-Sep-19
Winter is Coming--Don't Feed the Bears!
It’s September and that means bears are starting to prepare for winter. Most bears are focused on finding as much food as possible to prepare for winter. The quest for calories means bears are active and foraging. As the wild food sources bears rely on become more scarce. Improper food disposal, untidy garbage cans, poorly cleaned BBQ’s, and bird feeders may provide just the feast hungry bears are looking for.
Whether you are closing the cottage for the season or just between stays, here are some precautions you can take:
Before leaving your cottage make sure to:
- remove your garbage
- take it home or drop it off at an approved waste disposal site on your way
- use a strong disinfectant to eliminate all odours from garbage and recycling containers and lids
- never discard cooking grease outside: place it in a container with a lid, transfer it to a plastic bag and include it with other properly stored garbage
- take your barbecue with you when you leave the cottage, or clean it and store it in a secure shed
- do not leave any food or food scraps outdoors for pets or other wildlife
- when packing up, remember to remove all the food from the inside of your cottage
- a box of pudding or fruit-flavoured dessert mix is all it takes to attract a bear
- do not leave scented products outside
- even non-food items like suntan lotion, insect repellent, soap and candles may attract bears
- close and lock all windows and doors
- if you are away for an extended period of time, have someone you trust check in and look for signs of a bear visitor or break in
- if you rent your cottage, tell your tenants the importance of being Bear Wise
If You Encounter a Bear
Stop. Do not panic. Remain calm. Remember not every bear sighting is an emergency situation.
Remain calm – often the bear is just passing through, and will move on if no food source is found- Slowly back away while keeping the bear in sight
- If you are near a building or vehicle, get inside as precaution
- If a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety, call 911
- If a bear is in a tree, leave it alone and remove other people and dogs from the area
- Keep away from the bear, and do not block its exit
- Tell others of its location and warn them to keep away, and bring children and pets indoors
- Keep dogs on leash and away from bears
Need to Report an Encounter?
If you encounter a bear that poses an immediate threat to your safety, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Call the toll-free Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327 or TTY 705-945-7641 if a bear:
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- roams around or checks garbage cans
- breaks into a shed where garbage or food is stored
- is in a tree
- pulls down a bird feeder or knocks over a barbecue
- moves through a backyard or field but does not linger
This line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 to November 30 and can provide advice on how to avoid human-bear encounters during bear season.
Visit ontario.ca/bearwise for more information.