Although bear sightings are rare in Woodland Heights, the Ontario Provincial Police remind residents to be safe when bears come out of hibernation. Here are some simple precautions to take during spring, summer, and early fall: 

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• Store garbage in waste containers with tight-fitting lids. 

• Put out garbage and green bins only on the morning of pickup. 

• Do not put food out for the deer 

• Avoid putting bird seed and suet out between mid-April and mid-November (Neighbours have had good luck with nectar for hummingbirds by having window feeders well above the reach of bears.)

• Pick fruit and berries as they ripen. Don't let them rot on the ground. 

• Clean outdoor barbecue grills after each use, including the grease trap underneath. Bears will be drawn by smells from great distances, including grease and food residue on grills. 

• Keep dogs on a leash; sometimes bears will follow off-leash dogs. 

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*NOTE: If a bear is posing an immediate threat to public safety by exhaling threatening or aggressive behaviour, call 911 or your local police. 

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For more information, please visit the Ministry of Natural resources and Forestry website at Ontario.ca/bearwise