Black bear sightings are quite common in recent years, particularly in forested areas. In the interest of public safety, Peterborough County O.P.P. wish to highlight the fact that two black bears, one perhaps being a one year old cub and the other a larger bear, have been seen on a few occasions roaming around the village of Apsley during the past two weeks. There have been no reports of aggressive behaviour. 

     If a black bear comes on your property:

• Don't panic.
• If you are indoors, stay there. Keep your dog inside..
• If a bear climbs up a tree, leave it alone
• If  the bear shows signs of aggression,  you are probably too close. Do not turn your back, do not run, do not play dead. Back up slowly. Shout loudly at the bear to discourage it from approaching closer. 

      Prevention helps reduce bear problems:

• Reduce garbage odours   /   secure garbage. 
• Do not fill bird feeders with seed until the fall
• Keep pet food inside
• Fence in  fruit trees, berry patches,  vegetable gardens. and beehives discourage bears. 
• Noise usually discourages bears 

Friday night, Bill & I were going out for dinner and as we go out the door, I look towards the bird feeders.  To my great surprise, there is a rather large black bear looking back at me!

Now, we’ve seen the bears at the dump, so at first we’re just rather delighted that one should come to visit.  We know they are fairly small, and if we clap or yell, they’ll run off.  I’ve also seen them while walking on Anstruther Lake Road, and there too, clapping and shouting will send them running.

However, this particular bear has his eye on the bird feeder with the sunflower seeds, and no amount of yelling or clapping on our part is having any affect. 

He keeps coming in our direction, because we just happen to be on the far side of his target.  Bill says “Those guys can move pretty fast if they decide to.  I think we had better go back inside”  However, this particular bear has his eye on the bird feeder with the sunflower seeds, and no amount of yelling or clapping on our part is having any affect. 

Bill stayed at the kitchen door and I went into the bedroom, which has a large bay window looking right up at the bird feeders.  They are hung on a line which was a former dog run, about six and a half feet off the ground. When this bear stood up on his hind legs, his nose touched the bottom of the feeder.  This was a very large, and very handsome black bear!! 

From the kitchen, Bill yelled “Look what he’s doing!”  I yelled back, “I AM looking!  Get the camera!”  But before we could find it, the bear decided to leave and ambled off into the woods. 

When we returned  we leaned on the car horn as we came in the driveway, and the first thing we noticed  was  our little pussycat was completely inflated!!  Not only did she have the classic “bottle-brush” tail, but all the hair on her shoulders and back was standing on end.  Our visitor must have returned!  Looking with the flashlight, we could see that the bird feeder was on the ground.  And although our cat, normally loves to sit on the bedroom window seat in the morning to watch the chipmunks, rabbits and squirrels, she would NOT go up there that night or the next morning.  She would put one foot tentatively on the edge, and peek over it!

Next day, we could see the full extent of the damage.  There was nothing left on the line – two wind chimes, one feeder and three plastic tubes were on the ground.  The wooden feeder was completely demolished and the three plastic ones were shattered

Since then, we do not go outside or pass a window without wondering “where’s the bear?” –Maybe he’ll be visiting you one of these days.  Don’t let him find any food!