March 30, 2004
TORONTO - The McGuinty government has established a toll-free hotline as
part of a new Bear Wise strategy to help manage nuisance black bears and make
communities safer, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today,
delivering on a promise he made in December.
"People can call toll free 1-866-514-BEAR (2327) 24 hours a day, seven
days a week to report nuisance bear problems," said Ramsay. "This is
real positive change that will go a long way toward easing the minds of people
living in bear country and make our communities safer."
The new phone line will handle nuisance bear situations. In emergencies,
the public should call 911 or police for assistance.
"The best defence against nuisance bears is education and
prevention," said Ramsay. "Simple actions such as bear-proofing your
garbage, not leaving pet food outside and cleaning outdoor grills can make a
big difference in minimizing nuisance bear activities."
The Bear Wise strategy is based on four cornerstones - reporting, response,
prevention, and education and awareness - as the best way to reduce nuisance
bear activity.
Ministry staff have also met with more than 200 communities across Ontario
and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police to discuss ways of working
together to prevent nuisance bear problems.
"We all have a role to play in reducing human-bear conflicts,"
said Ramsay. "By increasing awareness of how to avoid unintentionally
feeding bears, we will drastically reduce nuisance bear activity which will
improve the quality of life of everyone living in bear country."
Fact Sheet: Bear Management Strategy
Website: http://bears.mnr.gov.on.ca
Ginette Albert
Minister's Office
(416) 314-2212
Steve Payne
Ministry of Natural Resources
(416) 314-2103