“I think that bear was used to being fed by people,” he said.
“Scared? You can put that down in big block letters. I was petrified.
“I didn’t know if he would come up on the rock, he wasn’t aggressive, perhaps if I shouted or something I might’ve made him angry, but he didn’t.
“Looking back at it now, I think I could have rubbed that bear, I think that bear was in contact with humans before, he was used to being fed by humans. All I got to say is that people shouldn’t go feeding wild animals, if they are going to the wilderness where the animals are so tamed, I think everyone should buy themselves a can of bear spray.”
Since May the Department of Natural Resources has received 54 complaints from residents with bears in their backyards and in their garbage bins.
In May, bears were spotted walking streets in Mary’s Harbour in broad daylight while the animals have been seen in almost every community from Old Fort Bay to Cartwright.
Bears have also been seen on the highway and on August 14 one motorist struck and killed a bear on the highway between Forteau and L’anse au Loup. The owner of the vehicle was not hurt but his car was a write-off.
Wildlife officers have a baited trap in L’Anse au Clair for a bear that roams the town at night. It has yet to be caught.
There are no signs on the highway warning the public of bears in the area, but the Department of Wildlife has posted signs that there is a live trap in the area.
Although bears are a common sight in communities at this time of year, the Department of Natural Resources reported sightings are up this year and have encouraged people to report bears as soon as they see them and take the appropriate steps such as proper storage, collection and disposal of garbage.
The Department of Natural Resources has advised the public not to approach or tamper with live bear traps.
If a bear becomes aggressive around the public the bear will be put down, otherwise, when a bear is caught in a trap the animal is tagged and brought a safe distance from the communities.
info@northernpen.ca
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