This week the Kanata family had a surprise visitor in their backyard – a hungry bear.
Bob Barter sent CTV News Ottawa video of a black bear rummaging through a bird feeder in the backyard of his Katimavik home.
The bear bends the rod that holds the backyard bird feeder, then eats the food from it.
Barter says they’ve had lots of animals in the backyard, but never a bear.
Bears have been spotted in Ottawa’s west end for the past few years. In May 2020, a black bear spent several hours in a tree along Terry Fox Drive before being removed by conservation officers. In June 2021, a black bear was spotted in a field in Stitsville.
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources offers the following tips if you encounter a bear:
- Slowly back away, keeping the bear in your sights and wait for it to leave
- If the bear won’t leave, throw objects, wave your hands, and make noise with a whistle or air horn
- Be prepared to use bear spray
- If you are near a building or vehicle, go inside as a precaution
- Drop any food you may be carrying and slowly walk away
- If a bear is in a tree, leave it. Leave the area. The bear will come down when it feels safe
The department says if you encounter a bear, don’t run, climb a tree or swim, or try to feed the animal.
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