There has recently been an increased number of bear sightings reported on the Kahkewistahaw First Nation.
Chip Taypotat is responsible for animal control in the community and says he has received more than 20 calls about bear sightings in the past month.
“This year has got to be the worst,” Taypotat says. “I don’t what it is, but last year it wasn’t near as bad and this year we’ve got more bears that are interfering with the community. I recommend you keep your garbage away from bins for now because that’s exactly what they’re after.”
Taypotat also adds that using bleach on trash cans can keep bears away.
“We’ve been using bear bangers to redirect them out of this community here and basically it has been working,” he says. “We’ve been using paintball guns too.”
He says in the past month, he has also received two reports of bears chasing dogs in the area.
“When you hear a dog with an aggressive sound like a bark, then you know something is in the area, especially now with the bear population being up,” Taypotat says. “We recommend that if you have a dog, listen to your dog.”
(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Wildlife Federation.)