AMPS RESPONDS TO POSSIBLE BEAR TRACK SIGHTING ON KAWEHNO:KE

On December 8, 2021, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service received information of an alleged bear track sighting just off of David Lane, located on Kawehno:ke (Cornwall Island).

 

Police attended the area and discovered a set of deteriorated tracks in the snow. A search of the area revealed negative results. Police spoke to the complainant who reported a black bear sighting earlier this year in the area of David Lane.

 

Bears can be a threat to your personal safety and police are urging residents to use caution and report any bear sightings to your local police service. Here are a few safety tips when encountering a bear.

 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE OR ENCOUNTER A BEAR ON YOUR PROPERTY:

Black bears live mostly in forested areas where they are best able to find food, winter den sites, and refuge. With human activity, development, and the population increase in what we often call “bear country” or “cottage country,” so too are the possibilities for people to see or encounter bears.

 

Every encounter with a black bear is unique. The following information is what experts recommend you do. There is no guarantee that what works in one instance will work in another.

 

BLACK BEAR SAFETY BASICS:

• Never approach the bear to get a better look.
• Do not attempt to feed a bear.
• Anticipate and avoid encounters.
• Know what to do if you encounter a bear.
• Learn about bears and their behaviour.
• When outdoors, supervise children and never leave pets unattended.

 

IF YOU SPOT A BLACK BEAR:

• Stay calm. Often the bear is simply passing through.
• Do not run away. Walk towards a building or vehicle and get inside.
• If you have children and pets, bring them inside too.
• Once indoors, observe the bear. Did it move on or did it stay on your property? If the bear stayed, what was it doing or eating?
• Encourage the bear to leave. Bang pots and pans, or blow an air horn or whistle. The more stressful a bear’s encounter with you, the less likely it is to come back.
• If the bear got into food (like garbage or bird food), or if the bear tried to get food, you will need to remove or control the item that attracted the bear.
• Once the bear leaves, remove the attractant and assess your property for other possible attractants like garbage; dirty barbecue; bird or pet food, or fruit/berries from your trees or bushes.
• It is possible for a bear to return even though you removed the attractant. Bears do return to places where they have found food. Once the bear does not get food, it will move on.
• If a bear is damaging your property, breaking into your home or threatening your personal safety or that of others, call 911 or Akwesasne Mohawk Police at 613-575-2000 emergency line.
• Alert your neighbours about bear activity and work together to keep your neighbourhood free from items that attract bears.