Thursday, October 09, 2003

MORE BEAR SIGHTINGS
(Powassan, ON)
The principal at St. Gregory School located at 152 Fairview Lane, Powassan, Ontario contacted the police on two occasions yesterday after sighting a bear near the school.

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on Wed. Oct. 8th, 2003, a bear was sighted going from portable to portable. Later that day, during the afternoon recess at 2:15 p.m., the principal, Mr. Marcello Tignanelli, called his students back in the school because the bear was sighted again.

On both occasions, police were called, but the bear was not in the area when they responded.

At approximately 9 p.m. police received a complaint of a mother bear and two cubs sighted in Pringle Township near some cottages off of Highway 522. In this incident, police were asked advice on dealing with bears.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. this morning, OPP in Mattawa were dispatched to a John Street residence after a bear was trying to get into the house.
When police arrived, the bear had vacated the area.

Police would like to remind you that the bears are hungry and are searching for a food source.
They are attracted to fruit trees, garbage, barbecues, pet food and bird feeders.

Continue to cut off these sources and eventually the bears will vacate the area.
If you encounter a bear, do not approach it. Stop.
Face the bear. Do not run. If you are with others, stay as a group.
Make sure the bear has an escape route.
Make some noise and wave your arms. This should work as bears are still partly afraid of humans.

Police are prepared to take necessary action if a bear becomes a nuisance and is a threat to human safety.