Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Black bears are often on the move across Newfoundland and Labrador this time of year, and multiple sightings in the community of Pasadena this week have officials on alert.
Multiple black bear sightings have been reported around the Glendale Avenue area. Hannah Flynn has seen a bear on her porch camera multiple times, including one instance on Monday where a bear got up close.
“We opened up our cameras, looked at the playback, and sure enough he was on our front deck stood up at our front door, seemingly almost looking in,” Flynn told CBC Radio’s Newfoundland Morning on Monday.
“I thought it was a little bit funny, to be honest, at first. But he did come back the second night and got into our garbage … ripped open our barbecue cover the second night as well.”
Flynn said she believes bears may be using local trails or water supply roads to move around town, which she called getting “too close to town for comfort.”
It’s unclear if there are multiple bears or multiple sightings of a single bear.
Pasadena Mayor Darren Gardner said the sightings can be alarming, especially for people who don’t know about the black bear.
“They certainly have been more frequent than in the past,” Gardner said. “As the municipality pushes back into the wooded areas, these things become more prevalent.”
Gardner said he believes bears could be attracted to “bait” that brings them into town — like garbage or fruit falling from trees.
WATCH | See the black bears visit to Hannah Flynn’s home:
Black bear getting ‘too comfortable’ in Pasadena neighbourhood
An unwelcome visitor is poking around homes and garbage cans in Pasadena. At least two people have recorded video of a black bear in their yards, even coming right up to the front door. Now, provincial wildlife officers are on the lookout and warning people to take precautions.
Residents should ensure their garbage is stored properly, he added, and recommended not putting it out until garbage day.
In a news release on Monday, the Department of Forestry, Agriculture and Lands also encouraged people to leave things like meat, fish and fruit out of compost bins and ensure things like barbecues are clean.
The department said that officials are monitoring sightings, but there are no indications that the increased sightings mean an increase in bear populations. There are between 6,000 and 10,000 black bears in Newfoundland, the news release said.
If you see a black bear, it’s best to quietly back away and leave the area. The department said people should try to stay downwind of a bear and avoid eye contact.
If a black bear sees you, it’s best to back away slowly and not run.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.