BATTLEFORD — The Town of Battleford is reporting that a bear was seen Tuesday at the Battleford Cemetery.
The town sent a message to the community via Facebook, urging residents to be bear aware if they see a bear in the future.
"This is a reminder that while seeing bears on the move is not unusual, it is important to always be aware of your surroundings," the town said.
"Most bears are cautious around humans; they rarely charge or chase a human under normal circumstances."
Mayor Ames Leslie said on Facebook that the town sees all types of wildlife due to its proximity to the river.
The town said if people do encounter a bear, they should follow these rules to stay safe:
- Stay calm — do not run. You can't outrun a bear.
- Make a wide detour, calmly back away, speak in low tones, and don't look directly at the bear.
- Never feed or approach a bear or cubs.
- Do not get closer for the sake of a photograph.
- Move towards a tree or rock. Climbing a tree is not an escape, but the bear may feel less threatened. Black bears can easily climb trees.
- As a last resort, drop articles if very close. It may distract the bear.
- In most cases, black bears will threaten but not attack. If attacked, defend yourself — do not play dead.
More information is available here.
