A couple of recent incidents involving bears is prompting Timmins Police to remind the public about bear attractants.

Police say they got a call about a bear and two cubs near the Algonquin-McIntyre Road intersection Monday. They, along with technicians with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry were able to safely move the bears into the bush area.

Later in the evening, police were called to the same area about three bears nearby. At that time, police weren’t able to locate the bears.

Police would like to remind residents that the best way to avoid bears is to remove all attractants.

“This summer, police have received 138 bear calls, most of which were related to attractants,” they say in a release, “Ensuring that industrial-sized garbage bins are closed and locked, placing household garbage at curbside the morning of pick-up only, cleaning barbecues thoroughly after use, and making sure items such as bird feeders and pet food are not left outside are all ways to minimize encounters with wildlife.”

If a bear, or any other animal is “an immediate threat to public safety,” police advise you to call them immediately.

Otherwise, simple bear sightings can be reported to the MNRF’s “Bear Wise” reporting line at 1-866-514-2327.

Filed under: Local News