Some recent bear sightings in Selkirk are offering an opportunity for residents to brush up on bear smarts this fall season. The bear was spotted in Selkirk in the final week of August, and though it checked out the City a bit, the bear doesn’t seem to have wanted to stick around.
The bear sightings occurred in the northern end of the City, in Selkirk Park, and near the Public Works area.
“Conservation was notified. They did set a trap. Unfortunately, the trap was unsuccessful. They didn’t capture a bear, but fortunately, the bear has not been sighted since,” said Kristy Hill, Director of Protective Services for the City of Selkirk.
There were two sightings.
“Just based on the photos that I saw, I would imagine it was the same bear. And, in talking to Conservation about bear behaviour, I would speculate that it’s probably the same bear,” said Hill.
Bears don’t regularly come into the City of Selkirk, but because the City is surrounded by rural areas, it’s not unheard of for a bear to pass by.
“We usually have one or two bear sightings a year. They’re normally not in the Selkirk proper (area) that you would think of. They’re usually on Hwy 9, which would be the west side, in more wooded areas, and then towards where the City butts up against the neighbouring RMs,” said Hill.
There doesn’t seem to, in this instance, be anything in particular that the bear wanted in the area, but bears are quite curious, so it’s possible it just wanted to check out what Selkirk is all about.
“Conservation had noted that it’s likely like a young male bear whose been separated from mom, just young and maybe smelled food at the campground, or was showing curious behaviour,” she said.
Many of our area’s residents will have grown up being told the rules of how to keep bear smart with safety for both humans and the bears being of the highest priority, but, for people who may not have that background, there are a few things that we can do to make sure that bears and humans interact as little as possible.
“Some great safety tips are, making sure that your food products when you’re camping or grilling are packaged properly. Make sure that your garbage is disposed of properly, and make sure you’re feeding your pets inside. (That means) don’t leave dog food and cat food outside, especially when you’re in areas like the campground where there’s heavy woods next door,” said Hill.
She explained that this is not just a way to keep bears away, but also other creatures like coyotes and foxes, who we don’t want to become accustomed to being able to get food from the same areas where people live.
Another tip for areas like Selkirk Park, which likely will have some wildlife living there because it is their home, is to keep your pets on a leash and be aware of your surroundings at all times.
If you see a bear, specifically, at any time of the year, you should treat it with the respect that it deserves.
“Don’t approach a bear. Also, just be cognizant that if you’re seeing bear cubs, (mama bear) is probably around, so you definitely don’t want to get between mom and cubs. Just report it to conservation, or if you’re maybe somewhere in a (provincial) park, the parks officer. Be aware of your surroundings and make sure you’re keeping yourself safe,” said Hill.
It’s also important to remember that wildlife, like bears, also have homes, and if you are wandering through a forested area where there aren’t people and bears would naturally live, it’s not necessary to report it to Manitoba Conservation unless the bear is behaving strangely. If you see a larger animal in nature, if possible, it’s best to leave the area slowly and cautiously and let them be.
You can contact Manitoba Conservation to report a bear sighting at 1-800-782-0076.
If you would like to learn more about being bear smart, the province of Manitoba has a comprehensive guide to black bears at www.gov.mb.ca/…/ws_coexistingblackbears_booklet.pdf.
