.jpg)
With recent black bear sightings making headlines, including one in Regina, Saskatchewan residents are reminded to stay vigilant and prepared when spending time outdoors.
“Really, Saskatchewan is bear country in many ways,” said Matthew Tokaruk, black bear biologist with the Ministry of Environment. “We have bears through much of the province—into the Parkland and even touching up against the grasslands sometimes.”
While bear encounters are still relatively rare, Tokaruk emphasized that being proactive is key, especially as more people head out hiking and camping in the warmer months.
Avoiding bear encounters
“The first thing to mention is that how we manage our attractants—garbage, pet food, our food—can make a really big difference in our interactions with bears,” said Tokaruk.
He stressed the importance of never feeding bears or bear cubs and always keeping campsites clean. Even items that smell good to humans—such as barbecue residue or bird seed—can attract bears.
“If it smells good to us, it certainly smells good to bears."
Common attractants include:
-
food waste and garbage
-
pet food
-
bird feeders (especially those with oil seeds)
-
compost piles
Tokaruk recommends removing bird feeders during bear season and thoroughly cleaning grills after cooking.
In Saskatchewan, it is against the law to feed or leave food for bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes, including on the side of the road. Failing to manage attractants can result in fines.
What to do if you see a bear
If you encounter a bear while hiking or camping, Tokaruk said it’s important to stay calm.
“Don’t run. Most times we encounter a bear, we’re just seeing the back end of that bear running away from us down the trail or across the meadow or field, and that’s totally fine. We can just let that bear go about its business.”
Instead, make a wide detour or calmly back away while speaking in a deep voice.
“If you’ve got a vehicle nearby, head towards the vehicle,” Tokaruk said. “If there’s a building, tree cover or anything that can break the line of sight, move in that direction. In most cases, that’s when the bear encounter is going to stop.”
If a bear continues to approach—a rare situation—Tokaruk advises having bear spray ready, dropping a jacket or hat to distract the animal, and never climbing a tree, as black bears are excellent climbers.
“If that bear was ever to make contact—and again, I want to stress how rare that would be—do fight back. Do not play dead. With black bears, do fight back and use your bear spray.”
“I really want to highlight that most of the time we’re going to see a bear, and it will be a positive encounter with wildlife from a distance, and that bear will move off. They don’t really want to be near us either.”
Why bears end up in urban areas
Bears occasionally wander into cities, particularly in spring and early summer. Often, these are younger “teenage” bears dispersing from their home ranges in search of new territory.
“They’ll cover a lot of ground, sometimes ending up places where they shouldn’t be,” Tokaruk said. “They’ve got their nose to the ground, too, so if there are food sources, they can get into trouble.”
Many towns and cities are located along natural travel corridors like river valleys, making encounters more likely.
“That’s tough for them—they can get disoriented. But if we manage the attractants at our campsite or cottage, that bear will probably just move on and there’s no issue.”
When to report a bear
If a bear is spotted in a residential or urban area, Tokaruk recommends calling a conservation officer, particularly if there’s concern for public safety. If there’s an imminent risk to human safety, residents should call 911.
For nuisance bear concerns, contact the Turn In Poachers (TIP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or call 1-800-567-4224. Emails can also be sent to center.inquiry@gov.sk.ca.
“It’s just important for folks to treat wildlife in general with a cautious respect,” Tokaruk said. “Much of Saskatchewan is bear country, and it’s important to keep that in the back of our minds as we’re out enjoying the outdoors."
“Bears in general are very food-motivated and are going to be looking for food sources—easy food. So us doing our part—putting coolers back in vehicles, keeping yards tidy, cottages cleaned up, taking down bird feeders—it helps."
“And remember, if you do encounter a bear, keep your distance, make that wide detour, and follow those steps I outlined. If you’re hiking, carry bear spray. That’s a good tool as well. All of these things will help keep both us and bears safe.”