A black bear sighting near Joe Magani Park in Bradford West Gwillimbury sparked a warning from the town this week to be extra vigilant about safety.
A town roads supervisor spotted a black bear Monday at 8:30 a.m. in the back area of the Community Services facility on Line 11, just east of Highway 400, said Caleigh Clubine, the town’s community relations officer.
“Staff observed from their trucks and watched the bear move off into the wooded area to the south,” she told BradfordToday. “They kept an eye out afterwards and while driving around the area, but no other sightings were made.”
Groups that had booked nearby Joe Magani Park were notified of the bear sighting, she added.
This included the Bradford Minor Baseball Association, which posted about it on Facebook.
“Please be on alert and extra vigilant around the playing fields and the parking lot,” read the post.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) was also notified about the black bear sighting.
The town’s animal control department was not contacted, but Rachel Welsh, an animal control officer in BWG, said she has previous received reports of bears in the area, including on June 11.
She said she got a report of a black bear running across a road in the area of 5th Sideroad and Line 13, near the town’s border with Innisfil.
“A black bear, not a cub. It could have been full grown,” Welsh said.
If someone spots a bear, the main thing to remember is not to approach it, she said.
“People just need to be aware that there are possibly cubs around, (which could also mean a protective mother bear). Just leave the animal alone. Stop what you’re doing and evacuate the situation,” said Welsh.
People should speak in a calm voice, back away slowly, avoid eye contact with the bear, and do not run away until the bear is out of sight, she said.
“(Black bears are) not too aggressive” and eat things like berries, she added. “We don’t have any grizzlies in this region.”
Another tactic is to flap a black garbage bag around in the air because the noise scares bears, Welsh said, adding it also works on coyotes, which have been seen “a lot” in the BWG area recently.
South Simcoe Police Staff Sgt. Lou DaSilva said bear sightings are more common in Innisfil than BWG, but they still only get about two or three a year.
“In general, we’ve never really had any incidents … involving a bear,” he said.
If anyone spots a bear, they should immediately call South Simcoe Police, which will inform the MNRF to follow up, he said.
“The only time we would get involved is if there’s an immediate danger,” DaSilva said, adding police have no way to tranquilize the animals. “In my 29 years on the job we’ve never had that (happen).”
But the most important safety tip, he said, is simply not to approach bears.
“Don’t get so curious so you get close to it. These are just common sense,” he said. “The most important (message) of all is not to approach.”
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A BLACK BEAR:
If it is threatening or aggressive, call 911 or the local police.
For non-emergencies, contact the MNRF’s Bear Wise reporting line — 1-866-514-2327 — which is open 24-7 from April 1 to Nov. 30.
- Back away slowly while keeping the bear in sight (but do not make eye contact with it) and wait for it to leave.
- If the bear does not leave, throw objects, wave your arms and make noise with a whistle or air horn.
- Prepare to use bear spray.
- If you are near a building or vehicle get inside as a precaution.
— Information from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
