What a surprise to see a bear in the backyard!

Don't feed them!

We had a bear amble by while we were eating dinner! There was a bear attack, when we lived there. They are very rare and they usually avoid humans. In all my forest walks I'd never seen one either here, in Lanark County, or in Muskoka. You just have to act like a human, they tell us. You should be bear wise in rural Canada.

Bear scat Lake Superior Park

This was a male cub, and I'm glad there wasn't any bird seed left. They have cut bear programs at the MNR, and they don't capture and remove them any more. Tourists just have to stop leaving garbage out! They are attracted to all kinds of food. You can see their food cycle here.
I've never seen one around here before, although we've seen signs of them! All cats were in, thankfully, as Daisy & Buster like to charge the deer and the turkeys. Their rear paws look like human feet. The scat is HUGE!

Ironically, it walked right by the 'bear crossing' sign!
TO REPORT BEAR PROBLEMS: contact the Bear Reporting Line at:
1-866-514-2327  (TTY) 705 945-7641

In a life-threatening emergency, call your local police or 911.

My bear sign!

Backyard bear from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
We had just sat down to dinner. I'm glad all of the cats were in, as they tend to charge the deer and chase the turkeys. I don't know WHAT they would do if they saw a bear. Buster was in the Muskoka room watching.

Left: Density of Bears in Ontario MapMiddle: Annual Bear Food Cycle Right: General Comparison of reproductive potential of big game species in Ontario

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Black Bear Ecology - Teacher Guides

With a focus on the fascinating world of black bears, this program provides teachers with a classroom ready resource. More...

Prevent encounters:

• In Your Neighbourhood
• At The Cottage
• While Enjoying The Outdoors

Learn about black bears:

• In Southern Ontario
• Biology

Why I want my government involved!

There is much signage in our riding, "Back off government" capital of Ontario.

I want to show you the reasons why I want my government to have rules and regulations for land use, pollution, clear-cutting, and the like.

Fire ban: March - May 15

Fire ban is off now.

Here is one reason for government intervention

Beautiful osprey

The osprey were decimated due to habitat loss and pollution. They eat fish, and they at the top of the aquatic food cycle. In the 60s and 70s, birds like this were increasingly unable to reproduce due to humans. They were the canaries in the mine, showing us the error of our ways.

Thankfully, they are on the increase.

Phoebe is nesting in our tree house!

Juvenile European Starling spotted by the mailbox!
Brought to Canada from Europe,
more  of man's inhumanity towards nature.

Here are more reasons why I want nature to be protected!

The Ontario government, after the last budget, has directed the MNR to cut $50 million over the next three years. This will have an impact on many programs, such as Bear Wise.

My Gravenhurst bear sighting

The onus will fall to police, and not prevention or transport of bears.

Cottage Country Now reports:

MUSKOKA-PARRY SOUND - <SNIP>

Communities with bear technicians, according to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, are being reduced from 25 to 15 with most of those being reduced to one technician.

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is reducing by more than half the number of bear technicians it employs under its Bear Wise Program, reducing staff from 48 to 21 across the province.

Bears - be wise

Bears do not USUALLY attack people, but it is unusual. Black bear attacks are extremely rare — since 2000, there have been two fatal incidents involving black bears in British Columbia.

One Muskoka resident had been feeding raccoons, and shot a small bear at the feeding station. Bear Wise tells us to put away all bird feeders in summer.
IN AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY in Ontario: 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

• Make garbage and composting inaccessible to wildlife: 
  
  
  • Use heavy garbage cans with locking lids
  • Fasten lids with bungee cords
  • Put garbage out the morning of pick-up, not overnight
• Use motion-sensitive floodlights to startle and scare away wildlife
• Keep pet doors locked at night
• Do not leave pet food outside overnight
• Keep BBQ grills clean and close BBQ lids after use
• Close your doors, screens won't keep them out