With summer 2017 looking as though it will rival 2015 in terms of nuisance bears, the province is hiring three more bear technicians in Sudbury, bringing the number to four – the most in the province.
Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault made the announcement Thursday on behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
"Over the last couple of years, bears have become a topic of conversation in the media, when you go to the local coffee shop,” Thibeault said at a news conference at Twin Forks Playground in New Sudbury.
“Just this morning, we heard on the radio that we had a bear on The Kingsway. And lot of calls to my office are, 'what are we going to do about the bears.
"We all hear stories about how some people have taken bear management into their own hands -- even feeding the bears apples full of anti-freeze, and they're suffering and dying. No one wants to see that."
The added technicians for Sudbury makes sense, since we have the highest number of bear calls in the province, Thibeault said.
"Through the MNRF, we'll be hiring three additional bear technicians for the community,” he said. “We'll now have four here in Sudbury, which makes us the community in Ontario with the largest group of bear techs."
Rachelle Niemela, chair of the Ward 8 Community Action Network, said bears roaming main streets in the area have become commonplace.
"It's been the last four years that really have been a problem here," Niemela said. "They go up and down our major roads, sitting in driveways, on their lawns, sitting up in trees. And it's impeded our quality of life. People are afraid to for walks, to let children play outside and put pets out in yards.
"Bears have become urbanized, and they're no longer afraid of humans or noise. Honking your horn at these urbanized bears really doesn't work anymore."
The added bear techs will hopefully improve response times to and allow “people to feel safe in their neighbourhood. And that's what it's all about."
Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer said he's received so many complaints, he's become known as “the bear councillor.
"It's clear bears have made a home in Greater Sudbury," Sizer said. "So today's announcement is great news."
But added enforcement isn't enough, he said. Removing food sources – garbage, bird feeders, etc. – around homes is also key.
"Every single person needs to do their part and practice being bear-wise," he said. "We need to ensure our properties are free of bear attractants."
Police Chief Paul Pedersen said the bear techs will ease the burden on police, who are sometimes forced to shoot aggressive bruins.
"We don't want to have to be in a position where we have to dispatch bears,” Pedersen said. “That is never something we want to do. Wildlife management is not a core function of policing. But public safety is. So we see this as something that will reduce the impact on the resources of the police service."
Thibeault said the added technicians will be available as long as they're needed.
Last year, the city received 1,476 calls about nuisance bears. So far this year, they have received 189 already.
