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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-09, Page 164.111100010 010111.010001 Page 16 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 9, 2009 REGISTRATION 3rd Goderich Beavers, Cubs, SCOUTS CANADA Scouts, Venturers Wednesday, Sept. 9 - 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 - 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Knox Church, 9 Victoria St. N. Volunteers are needed to become leaders. For more information on volunteering or registration, L please call Brian Sinnamon at 519-529-3562 T111J GE TRUCKLOAD SPECIAL .September lOtb-l9th Purchase a limited edition MAAXshot tub fa �lY�5995 while supplies lost •• sorcery Stereo • LED Lights • 3 Pumps • Stilnless Steel Jets • Waterfall • Fully backed by MAAS spas • Neck Blaster • 54 Hydrotherapy Jets nationwide warranty Wayne lhooets Since 1976 Hours: -Mon. to Fri. 9-5:30; Sat. 9-3; Closed Sundays 404 Erie St., Stratford 1-800-479-2419 Bears finding suitable habitat in Huron County, caution advised From page 11 containers. "There are ways to live with them," says Malhiot. As to whether the Ministry can be expected to come out with dart guns ablazing every time a bear is spotted, the short answer is no. Indeed, says Malhiot, thanks to the new biodiversity -driven legislation, the province's goal is for wildlife and humans to peacefully coexist rather than outright eradication of any crea- ture feared to be a predator. Pointing to the example of the -honeybee population collapsing and its subsequent impact on the pollination of 80 per cent of hu- man -food sources, Malhiot says people must employ practices that allow them to peacefully coexist with other species. Further, he notes, the Endan- gered Species Act is designed to protect any plant or animal life threatened by human activity and it is possible for bears to fall under that legislation. • Historically, notes Malhiot, bears called Huron County home and it was only development that pushed them to farther en- virons like Bruce County, which has been a known home to black bears. As it stands, says Mal- hiot, Huron County provides a suitable habitat for the creatures since there is food for foraging as well as adequate forest cov- er in some regions, particularly along the Maitland River where at least one bear sighting has been reported. Nonetheless, says Malhiot, it is the MNR's belief Huron County is home to only one bear that likely ar= rived here after leav- ing his mother and being pushed out by adult Gltnetsmt& Canachan-mads Kitch.ns QUALITY•ON TIME 411COMPLETE _,; NORTH STAR AmEntryguardi ---�� roast wissews Ail MOS DOORS 145 Huron Rd., Goderich, ON 519-524-1520 E -mal ea lesebiuewatrndmiowr,.a mskplowr f 48 Ontario St N., Grand Bend 519 -238 -DOOR (3667) c -mall au.waw.r.sew.y,nec BLU EWAT ER WII%IDDWB a DDDB Phil LaPorte Clarence Rau Please call or visit... We are here to help! Sales • Service • Installation OVER 20 YEARS OF QUALITY & RELIABILITY FREE ESTIMATES ON WINDOWS, DOORS & KITCHENS male bears that are territorial. That being said, says Malhiot, it is possible the teenaged bear will make Huron County his permanent home, and it is also likely other bears will migrate this way. It is for that reason, says Mal- hiot, that preventative measures rather than knee-jerk reactionary ones should be made when bears are spotted. - He adds that it falls within the OPP's purview to handle aggres- sive bears while the MNR deals with nuisance bears, deemed as those that repeatedly return to a given property due to its abun- dance of food sources. "Everything they do is re- lated to food," says Malhiot, noting refraining from leaving food scraps around properties would best serve those fearful of bears. Further, says Malhiot, it's im- portant for people to remember bears are just as fearful of two - legged animals. "In reality, bears usually run away from us," he says, adding the only way bears lose that fear is from repeated exposure to hu- mankind. "It's easy to live with bears as long as we don't feed them." Councillor Dave Johnston (Bluewater) says his concern is for children playing in farm fields or along the shoreline could be injured because they are unaware of the rules of deal- ing with bears. Noting he is a hunter who has had close encounters of the bear kind, Johnston says he is espe- cially worried about the possibil- ity of children coming between a mother bear and her cubs. "Whatever you do, don't get between a sow and its cub," he says. Malhiot notes Huron County's bear is believed to be a male or possibly a couple of males given the vast geography covered in the sightings. Though, he adds, there is the possibility a mother Linda Reaume Designer West Coast kitchens. And Much More • Kitchens • CustomVanities • Entertainment Units • Home Offices Bob Smyth Designer Visit Our Showroom! 50 West St. Goderich 519-440-0352 • 1-866-440-0352 Goderich & District Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award 2006 Email: westcaastkitecabktv.on.ca bear could move to this region in the future. . Coun. Neil Rintoul (Ashfield- Colborne-Wawanosh) questions whether the province's elimina- tion of the spring bear hunt has led to an explosion in the bear population. Malhiot says there is no prov- en link between the two events and that increased sightings are more likely connected to poor blueberry crops this season. Meanwhile, Coun. Dorothy Kelly's (Morris Turnberry) query as to whether Bearwise programs will be presented in area schools was met with a question mark. Malhiot says the local MNR of- fice is immersing itself in bear - related issues for the first time and is receiving assistance from its neighbouring bear -savvy of- fices. County planner Scott Tou- saw questioned whether the lo- cal MNR would follow Bruce County's lead with regard to an incident in Tobermory where a bear found in the cookies at a lo- cal bakery was tranquilized and a tooth - "I'm presuming it was his sweet tooth" - was removed. Malhiot said the MNR would likely be called in to tranquilize the bear in that kind of scenario. Noting he is more concerned with the proliferation of rac- coons, skunks and opossums, Coun. Bill Siemon (Huron East) questioned whether the MNR would push for changes to leg- islation so that residents can kill the creatures that are wiping out the region's songbird popula- tion. "They're not controlled any more," says Siemon. "I don't have a good answer to that question," says Malhiot, noting, however, that property owners do have a right to destroy animals that are a nuisance. Those spotting bears are en- couraged to report sightings to the MNR at 1 866 514-2327. In the event of an emergency, dial 911. 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