bear aware – Forests of Memory. Forests of Learning. Forests for Life.

By late summer in Saskatchewan, the blueberries are ripening in the north, chokecherries hang heavy in the parklands, and black bears are on the move. These wide-roaming wanderers, so often unseen in our boreal forests, can sometimes appear in the aspen bluffs of Moose Mountain, along the river valleys of the Qu’Appelle or the South Saskatchewan, or even padding their way through the Touchwood Hills or winding their way through the province along rail lines. To live here in Saskatchewan is to live in bear country, and learning how to share the landscape wisely is part of our Saskatchewan story. It has been interesting coming back to Saskatchewan from the foothills of Alberta and British Columbia and turn attention to our native wildlife.

Bear scat has been observed on the west side of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. Please use the free smart phone app iNaturalist to document any scat you may see in either George Genereux Urban Regional Park or Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area so we know when they have moved on. When you photograph any scat, please put something in the photo for scale, like your shoe nearby, a quarter, a pine cone, etc. to rule out the scat being coyote or raccoon please.

Photo by Tomu00e1u0161 Malu00edk on Pexels.com

Secretive Neighbours

Black bears are shy by nature. They’ll usually melt into the bush at the first sound of your footsteps. Yet they are also driven by an insatiable appetite. Food is survival, and a hungry bear will follow its nose. They thrive on berries, roots, insects, fish, and the occasional young deer or moose. But in lean years—or when human temptations prove irresistible—bears may nose their way into yards, campgrounds, greenspaces and garbage bins.

The danger comes when bears begin to link people with an easy meal. A bear that raids garbage or bird feeders quickly learns to return. Over time, it loses its healthy wariness of humans. Sadly, food-conditioned bears often have to be destroyed. It’s a loss not only for the animal but for the people who must live with the consequences.

Attractants: What Draws Bears In

Think about what sits outside your home, cottage, or greenspace:

Garbage bins rolled out the night before pickup.
Your Trash, Their Temptation – Take It Home
A greasy barbecue left to cool.
Scoop the Poop – Stop Attracting Bears
Bird feeders swaying with seeds.
Respect Wildlife – Share the Space Safely
A bowl of pet food left on the deck.

Why do they stay?
Human food left behind
Dog poop left on trails

To us, these are conveniences. To a bear, they are an irresistible buffet. Managing these attractants is the simplest, most effective way to keep both people and bears safe. Store garbage securely, freeze strong-smelling scraps until pickup, and haul bins out only on collection morning. Use bird feeders only in winter when bears are asleep. Clean your grill after each use. And never, ever leave pet food accessible outdoors.

Encounters on the Trail

Despite precautions, sometimes paths cross. If you meet a black bear in the wild, the best defence is calm.

Don’t run—running can trigger a chase.
Back away slowly while speaking in a low, steady voice.
Stay Calm, Stay Safe – Don’t Run From Bears
Give the bear room to escape.
Face the bear, back away slowly.
Keep your bear spray handy, know Saskatoon’s new bylaws and know how to use it by taking a bear safe class.
Never approach cubs. A protective mother is near.

Most often, the bear will huff, snap its jaws, or bluff-charge before veering off. If, in the rarest of circumstances, a bear attacks, fight back with everything you have. Do not play dead with black bears.

Living Responsibly in Bear Country

It is unlawful in Saskatchewan to feed bears, wolves, cougars, or coyotes. That includes leaving waste in the parks, and tossing food from your car at the roadside—a habit that puts both animals and travellers in danger. Failing to manage attractants can also result in fines.

If you do encounter an aggressive bear, or feel public safety is at risk, call the TIPP line at 1-800-667-7561 (or #5555 on SaskTel). To report nuisance bears, contact the Ministry of Environment at 1-800-567-4224 or email centre.inquiry@gov.sk.ca.

Sharing the Landscape

The truth is, most black bears want little to do with us. They’d rather linger in berry patches or dig for ants under a rotting log than cross paths with humans. But when we make our food their food, we invite trouble.

Living with wild animals means living responsibly. It means a clean yard, a tidy campsite, a tidy greenspace, and an awareness that the forest edge is not ours alone. With respect, caution, and a little preparation, Saskatchewan people and black bears can remain neighbours—wild and free, as it should be.