Sudbury black bears expected to return to city streets
New garbage bylaw aimed at curbing the problem begins this Friday
With spring here and warmer temperatures on the horizon, Sudbury's black bears are waking up from hibernation, and this year, the city hopes to be better prepared.
Last summer was one of the worst in recent history, with police receiving 1,700 bear-related calls. That was more than the previous five years combined.
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The influx in black bears was largely due to the failure of the area's wild blueberry crops, a main source of food for bears.
That sent hundreds of the animals roaming into the city looking for food, which often turned out to be people's garbage.
'Echo effect' from last year's bear problem
Bears have incredible memories and haven't forgotten about the garbage they ate last summer in Sudbury neighbourhoods, according to Trevor Griffin, district manager of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) in Sudbury.
"Given the situation we had last year in Sudbury, there is predicted to be somewhat of an echo effect [this year]," Griffin said.
"So because the bears were in the city last year and found food sources, they may come back looking for those food sources first when they come out of hibernation, until natural foods are available."
Griffin said even if this year's blueberry season is better, some bears will still likely come into the city.
New garbage bylaw kicks in on Friday
To help curb the bear problem, a new City of Sudbury bylaw starts April 1 and runs until November 30. Garbage can no longer be put to the curb at night. Instead, you'll have to put it out between 5 am and 7 am the morning of pick-up.
Sudbury is one of a few cities in Ontario to have a bylaw like this, with Timmins and Elliot Lake having similar bylaws in place for several years.
Sudbury city councillor Al Sizer, who pushed for the bylaw along with Sudbury police and the MNRF, said he has received some resistance from citizens upset with the new rule.
"We have to [keep] in mind what we're talking about here. And certainly if it's a bit of an inconvenience to put your garbage out in the morning that's certainly better than having a child or an infant hurt by a bear," Sizer said.
"I just hope people will do their part and try to eliminate as many attractants as they can. Without their uptake we can sit here and pass any bylaws we want, but the people have to help out."
Next step: Dumpsters
Since bears have such good memories, it's important that people follow the bylaw and stick to it, Trevor Griffin said.
"You can't just put your garbage away one day and expect the bear to move on. The bear will likely come back several times to check if food is available before it finally moves on, gives up, and goes somewhere else."
The bear will likely come back several times to check.- Trevor Griffin, MNRF
The next step for Sudbury will be to look at creating incentives or bylaws around city dumpsters outside of apartments and restaurants. They contributed to the problem last year, Griffin said.
"Bears were going through those dumpsters, [and] they'd find lots of food. And then they'd go scavenging through the neighbourhoods and pick off residential garbage when it was put out to the curb the evening before pick-up," he said.
"You'll notice throughout the city there's a lot of dumpsters, and most of those dumpsters have plastic lids on them. That doesn't stop a bear."