Bear season quiet so far
Wildlife officers recommend caution nonetheless
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 9, 2016
INUVIK
While Inuvik saw a record number of bears near town last year at about this time, this spring is so far relatively quiet, said wildlife officials.
This black bear was spotted not far out of town at around this time last year. This year has been relatively quiet for bear sightings, wildlife officers say. - NNSL file photo
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"Last year there were several bear reports in the summer," said Doug Villeneuve, manager of field operations with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. "But it's been quite quiet lately."
There have been a few reports so far this year, including a call last week about a bear at the solid waste facility, but that no serious incidents have arisen, he said.
The dump and the adjacent golf course are the most likely places to find bears, he said.
"There have been some sightings of grizzlies and black bears," he said, adding that at least one reported sighting was a false alarm.
The department received a report of a white bear near Lagoon Road, but Villeneuve said that after some investigation, officers found several dogs who were mistaken for much larger animals.
"Trends change from year to year," he said. "Sometimes there are more bears coming into the community, and some years there are less. there are a lot of factors."
While Villeneuve is advising residents to remain watchful and remember best practices when it comes to bear safety, he said there isn't anything different in the community or at the dump that would account for the higher number of bears last year and the apparent decrease this year.
He recommends residents take trash out to the curb only on the morning of garbage pickup, and to be aware of surroundings when walking in wooded areas.
"It's something to be aware of -- look for fresh scat or tracks on the trail," he said. "It's good to go in groups and talk amongst yourselves. In general, bears want to avoid people."
Villeneuve also said anyone who spots a bear in or near town can call the 24-hour emergency line at 678-0289 to report it.
