Visiting Bear Country

Black Bears Live Throughout Ontario   While the chances of you seeing or encountering a black bear are low, it is best you be prepared just in case.   A few things to know:   Black bears can range in colour from blonde through brown to black. There are no grizzly bears in the province. Once bears learn to access human food, management options, besides destruction of the bear, are limited. Black bears prefer to avoid people. The most common encounter is the one you didn’t know happened. The bear heard or smelled you, and left.

What To Do If You Encounter a Bear Do not approach the bear. Slowly back away while watching the bear and wait for it to leave.

Things to do:

• Know how to prevent, recognize and handle an encounter with a black bear
• Never intentionally feed a bear. You could get injured. You also spoil the bear. Bears quickly learn to expect human food and are more likely to approach people than wild bears.
• Don’t visit bears at dumps. If we want to keep bears wild, we need to ensure they do not lose their natural fear of people.
• Black bears are easily habituated to people.
• If you plan to enjoy the outdoors, plan your trip with safety in mind. Consider carrying a bear repellent spray, whistle, air horn and/or long handled axe.
• If you plan to camp or visit the cottage, make sure you are careful with your garbage and food. See our fact sheets for tips.
• In an immediate emergency, call local police or 911.

TO REPORT BEAR PROBLEMS: contact the Bear Reporting Line at:
1-866-514-2327  (TTY) 705 945-7641

In a life-threatening emergency, call your local police or 911.

• How to avoid encounters while camping. (At the campsite)
• How to avoid encounters with black bears while enjoying the outdoors.
• Don't invite bears to the cottage.
• Be safe in bear country