The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) is continuing to caution residents after a bear was spotted along the Tin Can Hill walking trail.
Bright yellow signs cautioning residents – first erected on July 29 – remain in place in the Tin Can Hill area after a resident reported a bear sighting to the department’s 24-hour wildlife emergency line.
A sign cautioning residents in the Tin Can Hill area remains in place after a bear sighting was reported to ENR late last month.
An ENR officer was deployed to the area to probe the report, ENR spokesperson Meagan Wohlberg told Yellowknifer.
“The officer patrolled the area but the bear was not spotted,” said Wohlberg, adding people walking the trails were informed about the recent sighting by the officer.
While there have been no additional sightings reported to the department, Wohlberg said ENR has received reports of bear feces in the areas of Rotary Park and the Chateau Nova Hotel.
Another bear sighting was reported near the Tin Can Hill area last summer.
“ENR is constantly reminding the public that Yellowknife and surrounding areas are wildlife country,” said Wohlberg.
Bear sightings or any wildlife emergencies can be reported to ENR's 24-hour North Slave Emergency Line at 867-873-7181.
FACT FILE
Residents who happen to run into a bear are advised by ENR to remember the following tips:
- Remain calm, have your bear spray ready (or other deterrents); speak calmly and firmly to the bear.
- Back away slowly. Never run away and never turn your back on the animal.
- Make yourself big. Raise your arms in the air to make yourself appear larger than you are.
- Give the bear plenty of space. If the encounter occurs on a trial, stand off the trial - don’t block a bear’s path.
- Most bears try to avoid humans but can be attracted to garbage or unattended food.
Source: Meagan Wohlberg, ENR spokesperson.
