The Nipigon OPP Detachment would like to remind the public that the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is the agency primarily responsible for bear management in the Province of Ontario. The MNR operates the Bear Wise Reporting line at 1-866-514-2327 twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The OPP does, however, respond to calls involving bears that pose an immediate threat to human or public safety. In these situations, call 911.

Responding to nuisance bear calls utilizes a significant amount of police resources. Police will only destroy a bear as a last resort in a situation of immediate danger to human and/or public safety when there is no other reasonable alternative.

Please do your part to avoid attracting bears into our communities. It is important that you do your best to limit food sources for bears. Most notably, garbage and garbage cans should be kept inside and only be put to the curb on the morning of your scheduled garbage pick-up.

For more information on how to prevent bear encounters, visit ontario.ca/bearwise.