Black bear roaming rural Halton Hills : Black bear seen wandering in north Halton rural areas

Black bear roaming rural Halton Hills

MELANIE HENNESSEY Special to The IFP A black bear was spotted in several rural north Halton locations by local residents this week. The approximate 200-pound animal-- which Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) officials are saying isn't considered a threat to humans-- was sighted in Nassagaweya and also in Halton Hills around Third and Fourth lines. The bear was reportedly seen by a motorist Monday night on Third Line near Dufferin Aggregates' Acton quarry. An hour later, homeowners on Fourth Line in the Glen Lawson Road area saw it on their back porch eating birdseed and suet, said Halton Regional Police Det. Sgt. Peter Hodgson. "Eventually he got tired of eating and left," he said. Shortly after that, it was spotted crossing Glen Lawson Road heading toward the quarry. While police didn't have an exact location in Nassagaweya where the bear was seen, The Milton Canadian Champion newspaper received a phone call Tuesday about a bear that was apparently sighted around Sixth Line and 15 Sideroad. There have been a number of black bear sightings recently in the Guelph/Wellington County area. But MNR Halton/Peel/Toronto area supervisor John Almond said he doesn't think it's the same bear that has been spotted in north Halton, noting the size descriptions are different. While some people may be alarmed, Almond said it's not unusual for the odd bear to come around where people live. He also emphasized that black bears aren't aggressive. See BLACK, pg. 4

Black bear seen wandering in north Halton rural areas

Continued from pg. 1 For those in the rural area, Almond advised that they shouldn't put sweet foods in their composters or their garbage out the night before pick-up. If someone perceives they're in danger because of a bear, Almond said they should call 911. Otherwise, bear sightings or damage to a property from a bear can be reported to the MNR's hotline at 1-866-514-2327. This isn't the first time a bear has been spotted in north Halton. In 2004, a bear was seen in Limehouse and Ballinafad. A few weeks later, what was believed to be the same bear was shot and killed in Greensville, near Dundas, by a Flamborough Animal Control officer after being tracked around suburban backyards for an hour and a half. Almond said in cases where a bear ends up in someone's backyard or up a tree, it can be trapped or tranquilized and rescued. "The only time we would endorse shooting a bear is if it's a public safety threat," he said. While it's unclear where this particular bear originated from, Almond said he knows there are a few bears that call the Niagara Escarpment home. The MNR's Web site advises those who encounter a bear to back away slowly while watching the animal and get into a building or vehicle. It also suggests only putting birdfeeders out during the winter months. For more tips visit http://bears.mnr.gov.on.ca. --With files from TorStar News Service