UNITY — The Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment provides the following update regarding the June 2 bear sighting in the town of Unity.
“Conservation officers received a report of a bear sighting near the community of Unity on Thursday, June 2, 2022. After investigating in collaboration with the local RCMP, officers believe that the sightings were two young bears who appear to have moved out of the area on their own. No further sightings have been reported. “
The ministry notes black bears are a natural part of the landscape in most of Saskatchewan, so sightings are not uncommon. Bears are intelligent and ruled by their stomachs, so it is important to keep yards and campsites free of attractants. Do not leave pet foods or garbage out, take down bird feeders in the spring, and clean barbecues after use.
“When enjoying the outdoors, take the necessary safety precautions to avoid bear encounters. To avoid surprising a bear, hike in groups and make noise. If you encounter a bear, keep your distance, and do not try to scare the animal away. Make a wide detour, calmly back away, speak in low tones, and do not look directly at the bear. Most often, the animals will move on without any intervention,” the ministry adises.
To report an encounter with aggressive wildlife, and/or if public safety is at risk, call the Turn in Poachers and Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-667-7561 or from your SaskTel cell phone at #5555.
More information about wildlife safety is available at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/wildlife-issues
