a black bear and her cub in a field foraging on grass
October 6, 2020 Uncategorized No Comments

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources recently notified the Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre that there has been recent reports of bear activity in populated areas as they search for food sources.  This typically leads bears to foraging for food in garbage cans or green carts.

The important thing for residents to remember is, if there is no food source on your property, a bear will not stay long and will not likely return.

You can reduce the possibility of a bear visiting your property by:

  • Storing all household waste bins (garbage, recycling and green cart) in an area that is not accessible to bears; like a garage or shed.
  • Freezing odorous food waste and placing it out in the green cart on the morning of your collection day.
  • Wrapping food waste well in newspaper or paper bags to absorb moisture and reduce odours in your green cart.
  • Using lime in your green cart to help reduce odours or layer with dried yard waste.
  • Rinsing all waste bins with a mild detergent thoroughly after each collection.
  • Keep BBQ grills clean and free of grease.

Click here for more information on keeping bears away from your home and community (MNR PDF Document).

Click here for more information on who to call if you encounter a bear (MNR PDF Document).

Additional information on Ontario’s Bear Wise program can be found at www.ontario.ca/page/prevent-bear-encounters-bear-wise.

Written by Elizabeth Graham
Elizabeth Graham has been the Communications Officer at Ottawa Valley Waste Recovery Centre since November 2001. She loves all things up-cycled and re-purposed and enjoys working and volunteering within the community.