Bear serves up scare for Muskoka chef

[Animal 0]

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/234632

(en ONTARIO) Bear serves up scare for Muskoka chef

BILL SANDFORD FOR THE TORONTO STAR
Jeff Herrington, a cook at a luxury resort in the heart of Muskoka, had a
close encounter with a bear at the back door of his kitchen. Recent Ontario
encounters:

Bears have been seen wandering in downtown Bracebridge and Peterborough. In
recent weeks, Bracebridge OPP have shot two bears. Bracebridge Public School
cancelled recess the last two days of class due to sightings.

At the Wigamog Inn Resort in Haliburton last week, kids had to be locked in
the tennis courts while a bear was scared off.

Resorts from Clevelands House in Minett, Ont., to Cranberry Marsh Cove
Resort in Bala, to the Delta Sherwood Inn in Port Carling have had brushes.

At Parry Sound's Delta Rocky Crest Resort, general manager Alan Boivin says
most sightings are on the golf course.Police shoot angry bruin as reports of
encounters with humans explode

Jul 11, 2007 04:30 AM
Curtis Rush Staff Reporter

Jeff Herrington, a cook at a luxury resort in the heart of Muskoka, was
preparing a late-night meal at about 10 p.m. last Wednesday when a guest
told him that a bear was at the back door of the kitchen trying to get in.
Herrington walked outside to find out for himself.

That almost proved fatal.

Black bear encounters with humans in southern Ontario have exploded this
summer, according to resort owners and Ministry of Natural Resources
statistics.

The black bear staring at Herrington at Clevelands House in Minett, Ont. was
about 250 pounds. Cornered by a fence and wall, it charged him.

The 37-year-old screamed, turned and ran. The bear was less than a metre
behind, trying to swipe at his legs when Herrington dove over a railing and
crawled on all fours to the edge of Lake Rosseau. He went deeper in the
water to escape.

Three people sipping drinks on the veranda couldn't believe what they were
seeing.

"It was the most terrifying experience I've had in my life," Herrington
said. "I would have been a goner. It took me four hours to stop shaking."

The bear gave up the chase, but it then raced up a path to the gift shop and
almost attacked a 12-year-old girl. However, her screams apparently scared
the animal off.

Two days later, a bear was back, hissing at guests. Believing it to be the
same one QUELLES PREUVES AVAIENT-ILS ? – and the same one that had been trapped and relocated 11 days
earlier – resort owners called police.

When officers arrived, the bear twice took a run them. Five bullets were
needed to kill the animal.

It was all over when guests were awakened at 10:30 p.m. by the gunshots. But
many didn't know exactly what had happened until breakfast the next day.

Explanations vary on why there are more bears farther south this year. The
numbers in the Parry Sound area have exploded, according to numbers by the
Ministry of Natural Resources. To date, there have been 694 occurrences this
year as of July 8, compared to 251 at the same time last year.

Resort owners fear the cancellation of the spring bear hunt in 1999 has led
to the increase in the bear population, although the ministry disputes this.
Other explanations include that mosquitoes have been particularly bad this
summer, pushing the bears out into well-populated areas. Development is also
being blamed for forcing the bears out of their natural habitat.

Jolanta Kowalski, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Natural Resources, says
some berry crops have not ripened yet and dry conditions have contributed to
a depleted food source. However, she says the bear population has remained
consistent in Ontario with anywhere from 75,000 to 100,000 bears.Sandy
Cornell, assistant manager at Clevelands House, says notices advise guests
that bears have been on the property. Esa Paltanen, who until recently was
general manager of the Delta Sherwood Inn on the shores of Lake Joseph in
Port Carling, said the bear situation has become "alarming."

"Somebody's going to have to die for them to do something."

Others try to maintain a sense of humour. Cornell joked that Clevelands
House offers "tennis, golf and bear programs."

http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/234632

[Animal 0]

et voila, c'est r'parti !!!!!!!


Ontario urged to restore spring bear hunt
Canadian Press

July 13, 2007 at 1:33 PM EDT

TORONTO — Hunting and tourism groups say the province cancelled the spring
bear hunt in 1999 based on touchy-feely reasoning, and it's time for a new
policy based on facts.

Doug Reynolds of the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association says
the hunt was cancelled by former Progressive Conservative premier Mike
Harris because some argued it was leaving bear cubs orphaned.

Mr. Reynolds said that claim has never been proved, and that with bear
sightings on the rise, it is time to bring back the hunt.

He said it would be a huge boost for northern Ontario's tourism industry
while cutting down on instances of nuisance bears.

A spokeswoman for Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources said bear
occurrences are up compared with last year, but she noted that the numbers
are down from two years ago in some regions.

The ministry also said there is no reason to bring back the spring hunt
since plenty of hunting is done in the fall.

But Mr. Reynolds said the spring is a key period for tourism operators in
northern Ontario. Bringing back the hunt the, he said, could have a huge
impact on businesses by extending their seasons a month or more.

“To have four to six weeks of very high-value activity at the very beginning
of the season is that little cash flow start that most businesses need,” he
said.

“You've just been through literally half a year of no income and very high
expenses, because that's the time of the year you're doing your marketing.
And to have a sudden infusion of cash into your business just as you're
opening up for the season is tremendously important.”

Mr. Reynolds said there is little risk to the government in bringing back
the hunt, which would be applauded in northern Ontario and virtually ignored
in the southern urban regions.

“Northerners are very engaged in this story because they see the economic
impact on their communities and they see the adverse impacts that nuisance
bears are having in their communities,” he said.

“I don't think any government would be running a huge risk to reinstate it.
It would be very positively seen in the north, and frankly, it would be
greeted largely with indifference in the south.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070713.wbearhunt0713/BNStor\
y/National/home