Police, MNR reach bear agreement

Sault Ste. Marie Police announced today that they've reached a bear-management agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources.

"The authorization ... eliminates the need for police to proceed with a controlled bear shoot at the refuse/landfill site," Police Chief Bob Davies said in a written release.

He describes the new agreement as the Ministry's "first significant proactive step in reducing the bear population within the City."

The full text of the police announcement follows:

*************************************************************************** On Friday, July 12, 2002, representatives of the Police Service, City of Sault Ste. Marie and the Ministry of Natural Resources met at the police services building and continued discussions regarding the increased number of black bears venturing into the City.

In response to public safety concerns the Ministry of Natural Resources has agreed to a two-step plan that would reduce the urban bear population through a tagging and relocation program.

This past weekend the Ministry of Natural Resources approved a special study application from the City authorizing the trapping of bears at the City's refuse/landfill location.

Under a separate agreement, the Ministry will provide the CIty with additional bear traps and provide training to the City's bear control officer to allow for the tranquilizing, tagging, and relocation of the bears caught at the City's refuse/landfill site.

The special authorization from the Ministry is the first significant proactive step in reducing the bear population within the City.

The tagging program will determine if the bears migrate back to City's refuse/landfill site and/or the residential areas of the City.

The authorization also eliminates the need for police to proceed with a controlled bear shoot at the refuse/landfill site.

Chief Robert Davies is grateful for the efforts of City staff, Mr. Dennis Monaghan, and the Ministry of Natural Resources in coming up with a plan to address this significant public safety problem.

Chief Davies notes, "The action plan to relocate the bears at the refuse/landfill site will start immediately and on the heels of an incident this past Saturday where it was necessary for police officers to shoot a black bear at the rear of a residence on Fort Creek Drive."

The bear was shot by police around noon hour as a result of immediate safety concerns to the senior and children in the area.

*************************************************************************** To visit the Ministry of Natural Resources' web pages about black bears (and what to do if you encounter one), please click here.

We can't bear to inflict another bear pun on you

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