Despite an earlier than normal start, bear calls to Greater Sudbury Police are down slightly this year, compared to the same time in 2015 and 2014.
As of July 5 Greater Sudbury Police have received 199 bear-related calls in 2016, compared to 212 calls during the same period last year, and 296 calls by July 5, 2014.
Despite six per cent fewer calls so far this year, when compared to 2015, Greater Sudbury Police Insp. Michael Chapman said police have dispatched, or killed, three bears so far this year.
In all three cases Chapman said the bears had been seriously injured, and police officers had to put them down to end their suffering.
On May 8 the first bear police put down had been hit by a motor vehicle on Regional Road 55, near Fielding Road.
On May 15 a resident near Bancroft Drive shot a bear with a crossbow after it got into their neighbour's porch.
“When we got there the bear was still alive, so we had to dispatch the bear to prevent any further suffering,” Chapman said.
Chapman said police did not lay charges in that case because the bear had entered the neighbour's property, but he added police do not condone the action.
On June 10 another bear was struck by a vehicle, on Municipal Road 80 near Emily Street, and also had to be put down.
Chapman said residents should only call police about black bears if they feel they're in immediate danger.
Otherwise concerned residents should call the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's bearwise line at 1-866-514-2327, or contact the city's report-a-bear program at 705-674-4455 ext. BEAR (2327), or by emailing [email protected].
Last year bear-related calls increased dramatically later in the summer. Greater Sudbury Police received 1,764 bear complaints by the end of 2015. It was a substantial increase from the 537 they received in 2014.
Chapman said people should be mindful of bear attractants to avoid encounters in the first place.
Attractants include household garbage and bird feeders.
