**TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE NEWS RELEASE**

The Timmins Police Service is in receipt of a bear complaint received on Friday, May 29th where an aggressive bear is alleged to have charged at a person using a nature trail in the area of Hersey Lake Conservation Area.

In this instance a person was approached on three occasions by an aggressive bear despite being sprayed with bear spray.

While bears are typically have a timid disposition, the nature of this encounter necessitates a public advisory to be distributed so that those persons who venture out onto the trail system in the Hersey Lake area are aware and use the proper safety precautions.

In consultation with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) the Timmins Police urge that nature enthusiasts consider using other trail systems in the short term.

A bear trap device has been deployed by the MNRF in the hopes of removing the aggressive bear from the area.
As such, pets being walked in this area should remain on a leash in keeping with Bear Wise guidance and the stipulations of existing Mattagami Region Conservation Authority Regulations.

Additionally, the following is provided to the public as proactive messaging intended to enhance the safety of persons who are choosing to use nature trail systems in the Timmins area.

If you encounter a black bear, please be mindful that quite often bears are caught off guard by the encounter and become stressed, and usually elect to flee the area.

If such an encounter happens, the best course of action is to simply come to a stop and remain calm. Slowly back away while keeping the bear in sight and wait for it to leave.

If the bear does not leave, throw objects, wave your arms and make noise with a whistle or air horn.
If you are so equipped, prepare to use bear spray.

If you are near a building or vehicle, get inside as a precautionary measure.
Drop any food you may be carrying and slowly move away.

If a bear is in a tree, leave it alone. Leave the area. The bear will come down when it feels safe.
It is further recommended that, if confronted by a bear that the person confronted not run, climb a tree, or take to water.

It is further recommended that persons confronted with a bear not kneel down, make direct eye contact, or approach the bear for any purpose or attempt to feed the bear.

Most typically non-threatening intentions such as attempting to photograph or feed the bear will be misinterpreted as threatening or menacing advances by the bear.

The Timmins Police Service and the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority recommend that persons who indulge in hiking, cycling or walking their pets seek out the advice provided at the following website to enhance their own safety https://www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise#section-1

For those persons who do not have internet access, the Timmins Police Service reminds all citizens that incidents of this nature are extremely rare and their severity can be significantly diminished by following the guidance provided by means of the Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327.

Filed under: Local News