Sudbury black bears expected to return to city streets

Morning North6:20What will the bear problem be like this year?

With spring comes the return of bears. It's hoped that a new garbage bylaw in Sudbury will help keep bears out of urban areas. The CBC's Marina von Stackelberg spoke about the bear issue with Trevor Griffin of the Ministry Natural Resources and Forestry.

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 bebetter prepared.

Last summer was one of the worst in recent history, withpolice receiving 1,700 bear-related calls. That was more than the previous five years combined.

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The influx in black bears waslargely 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 memoriesand haven't forgotten about the garbage they ate last summer in Sudbury neighbourhoods, according toTrevor 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, anew City of Sudbury bylawstarts 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 amthe morning of pick-up.

Sudbury is one of a fewcities in Ontario to have a bylaw like this, withTimminsandElliot Lakehaving similar bylaws in placefor several years.

Sudbury citycouncillorAlSizer, who pushed for the bylaw along with Sudbury police and theMNRF, said he has received some resistancefrom 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,"Sizersaid.

"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 bylawand 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 aroundcity dumpstersoutside ofapartments and restaurants. They contributed to theproblem last year, Griffinsaid.

"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."