Video: Bear running on the streets near Georgetown school

Published May 18, 2023 at 7:47 pm

The bear on the loose near a Georgetown school has recently been captured on video bolting down the street.

Halton Hills confirmed a black bear was wandering around Georgetown on the morning of May 18 in a warning for residents to stay vigilant. Hours later Halton Regional Police reported the bear had moved on to the area around McKinnon Ave. and Barber Dr.

“Foot traffic is asked to avoid the area and bystanders are asked to please move along. Police are on scene and working to resolve the situation,” investigators said.

Recently the bear was captured on a home security camera by Sara Jukel-Edson and Heather Dbs and shared on Facebook.

According to Bear Wise, a bear education program, residents should “call 911 or your local police if a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety and exhibits threatening or aggressive behaviour, such as:

enters a schoolyard when school is in session
stalks people and lingers at the site
enters or tries to enter a residence
wanders into a public gathering
kills livestock/pets and lingers at the site”

Police will respond first to an emergency situation, but may request assistance from the ministry during daylight hours.

However, for non-emergency encounters, they should call the toll-free Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327 if the bear;

roams around or checks garbage cans
breaks into a shed where garbage or food is stored
is in a tree
pulls down a bird feeder or knocks over a barbecue
moves through a backyard or field but does not linger

This line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 to November 30.

If one encounters this bear the should

Slowly back away while keeping the bear in sight and wait for it to leave
Throw objects, wave your arms and make noise with a whistle, air horn or yelling if the bear does not leave
Prepare to use bear spray
Get inside a building or vehicle, if you are nearby, as a precaution
Drop any food you may be carrying and slowly move away
Leave a bear alone if it is in a tree, leave the area, the bear will come down when it feels safe
Play dead only if you encounter a mother bear with cubs

They should not, however;

Run, climb a tree or swim
Kneel down
Make direct eye contact
Approach the bear to get a better look
Attempt to feed a bear
Let your dog off its leash
Play dead unless you are attacked by a mother bear defending her cubs

With files from Jeffrey Allen

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