Bears scrounging for bare necessities

A black bear stands near the side of Highway 881 near Conklin, Alberta on Tuesday May 10, 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward) (Jonathan Hayward/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

If you look out into the woods today you might be in for a big surprise.

Bear hibernation season is over and Ontario’s big black bears will be out scrounging for food.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, bears have fantastic memories and will sometimes travelling over 100 kilometres and return to where they found food in the past.

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During mid-March to late April, there is little natural food for bears, causing them to search for other food sources, including garbage and bird feed.

To keep our communities safe, follow these effective precautions:

Just the Bear Facts:

• Never feed or approach bears
• Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids, preferably indoors
• Wait until pickup day to put out garbage for collection
• Remove bird feeders for the spring and summer (instead you can offer birds natural alternatives such as flowers, nesting boxes or fresh water)
• Clean food residue from outdoor barbecue grills and grease traps after each use
• Keep dogs on leash and store pet food indoor

To know how to handle a bear encounter - and who to call if you encounter one - call the province’s non-emergency, toll-free Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327. The line operates from March 17 to November 30 and is available 24/7.

If a bear is posing an immediate threat by showing threatening or aggressive behaviour, call 911.