The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Manitoba Conservation is encouraging residents to take preventative measures as officers have fielded 30 reports of nuisance bears in city limits this summer. "Because we live in Flin Flon, people can expect to see bears. They're just a part of where we live," said Natural Resource Officer Corey Meadows. "The main thing is to be smart and not to put anything in your yard that is going to attract them." Meadows recommends people take out their garbage as often as possible, particularly if it contains waste with a strong odour such as fish. Bird feeders and pet food also attract the animals, he said. "The bears who hang around and become a problem are the ones who are getting food," noted the officer. Meadows said the worst thing people can do is provide food for bears or any other wild animal because they will begin to link humans with food, a troublesome association. Nuisance bears have been spotted at various points around the community this summer, including the Wally Heights, Chicken Chef, Trailer Court and McIsaac School Ecole McIsaac areas. "It seems like along the creek near McIsaac, it's quite common for people to see bears, and they just follow that route into town," said Meadows. The bears have been nothing more than a nuisance, but to be on the safe side, Conservation has had to destroy half a dozen of the animals. "If there aren't people around, a lot of times we're able to chase the bear out of the area," said Meadows. "But some bears get far enough into the city that we can't chase them out." While there have been 30 reports from within city limits, half as many have come from the surrounding cottage subdivisions. "Lots of times they're in the cottage areas, and it's natural for them to be there. If they don't get food, most of the time they will just pass through," said Meadows. Though encounters with aggressive bears are rare and attacks even rarer, Meadows said residents should always take caution when it comes to any wild animal. The number to phone if you see a bear within city limits is 687-1640 (weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.) or 1-800-782-0076 outside of business hours. Other Conservation tips to keep bears away from your property include: Remove the grease and charcoal from your barbecue after every use; replace lava rocks with ceramic bricks for ease of cleaning; turn the grill on "high" for several minutes to burn off food residue and grease; clean pits and grills with an ammonia-based cleaner to mask the smells. Do not burn garbage ? the fire remains may attract bears. Do not use blood meal or fish-based products to fertilize your lawn or garden. Do not compost unless you can be certain the location is away from treed cover and it will not act as an attractant; do no compost meat, fish, fruit, vegetable, grease, oil or dairy products outdoors. See 'Bears' P.# Con't from P.# Remove all bird feeders from April through to November. Birds have ample natural foods in the summer and do not need supplemental feed. In stressed food-availability years, a bear will choose this high quality and dependable year-round food supply over natural foods. While camping store all food in your vehicle; do not dispose of dishwater around your campsite; do not use cosmetics that emit strong fragrances ; do not keep synthetic-based products like perfume, deodorant and toothpaste in your tent.
