HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-02-01, Page 7Animal control officer says bears
are hibernating in Huron County
Ai
Shaun Gregory, Randy Richmond
Huron Expositor /Postmedia Network
Bears aren't coming to Southwestern
Ontario just for a dine and dash
anymore.
Instead, they appear to be settling in
for longer.
But have no fe r — the black bears
aren't going o invade in large
numbers.
Huron County, nortlrof London, has
experienced its most bear sightings in
decades — and those suggest the bears
are wintering in the region, the coun-
ty's animal control officer, Bob Trick,
says.
It's worth nothing the bears will wake
up hungry in the spring, he said.
"We have to prepare ourselves to
have bears hibernating every year;" said
Trick, who alerted Goderich town
council to the issue days ago.
In 2014, there were about 15 bear
sightings in Huron County, he said.
In 2015 there were few, but in 2016
Trick received 30 reports of bears,
including some with videos and
photographs.
- He began investigating in October,
and near the trail of the Maitland River
Valley found three piles of bear scat,
with berries, that backed up claims of
sightings.
The late sighting suggests the bear
was going to spend the winter in the
area, Trick said.
"Other years, we figure they came
and went back north."
Trick noted that bears had been
sighted, and unfortunately struck and
killed by vehicles near Strathroy and in
Wellington County.
Bears were also spotted near Strath-
roy and in Lambton, Wellington and
Middlesex counties in the summer of
2016.
The last bear sighting in London was
in April 2010, when police shot and
killed one that had wandered into west
London, just south of Oxford Street,
behind the Child Parent Resource
Institute (CPRI) on Sanitorium Road.
Bears need a large food source in late
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We have to prepare
ourselves to have bears
hibernating every year."
— said Huron County animal
control officer, Bob Trick, who
alerted Goderich town council to
the issue days ago.
summer and fall to put on weight and
hibernate for the winter, and dry condi-
tions farther north might have reduced
the berry supply this year, Trick said.
That's something homeowners han-
dling food and garbage outside might
have to keep more in mind if bears start
to hang around.
"If you have food, they will be there,"
he said.
But there's little chance of a bear
invasion into southern regions of
Ontario, said Ministry of Natural
Resources spokesperson Jolanta
Kowalski.
The province has plenty of advice for
humans dealing with bears and notes
on a website:
"Bears usually avoid humans. But
they are attracted into urban and rural
areas to get food. They will topple bird
feeders, ransack barbecues, raid gar-
bage cans and even try to enter build-
ings. If they learn that they can find
-'food where people live, bears will
return again and again."
Bear encounter tips
Stop. Don't panic. Stay calm.
Don't corner a bear: make sure it has
a clear escape route.
Always watch the bear and slowly
back away until it's out of sight.
If you're near a building or vehicle,
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get inside.
Leave the area if you're berry=pick-
ing, hiking, camping, jogging or
cycling.
If you're with others, stay together
and act as a group.
If the bear does not get closer to you,
slowly back away, talking to the bear in
a quiet, monotone voice.
Do not scream, turn your back on the
bear, run, kneel down, make direct eye
contact, climb a tree or try to swim away.
Wednesday. February 1, 2017 • Huron Expositor 7
Huron County animal control officer, Bob Trick said last year he
recorded the most bear sightings ever to date. Since finding bear
droppings last October, Trick said this time frame proves they are
currently overwintering in the region.
Usborne & Hibbert Mutual --Fire Insurance Company
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
The 141st Annual Meeting and Special General Meeting of the Usborne & Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company will be held
at the Kirkton-Woodham Community (entre at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 20, 2017 for the presentation of the Annual
Report, to elect Directors, to appoint auditors and authorize the directors to fix the auditors' remuneration, and to consider and
if thought fit, to adopt, with such amendments as may be made at the meeting, amendments to the General By-laws of the
Company that were passed by the Board of Directors at their meeting on December 13th, 2016. A summary of the amendments
to the General By-laws follows. A full copy of the General By-laws as amended is available for review by all members at the
Company office during regular business hours, or will be provided upon request.
Nominations will be received for the election of two Directors for a three year term. The Directors whose term of office expires
are Michael O'Shea and Tom Feeney both of whom are eligible to and will stand for re election. Article 22 of the Corporation's
General By-laws provides: Any person wishing to seek election or re-election as a Director must file his/her intention to stand
for election in writing with the Secretary of the Corporation in person at least thirty days in advance of the Annual and Special
General Meeting.
The 2016 Financial Statements for Usborne & Hibbert Mutual will be posted to the company's website at
www.usborneandhibbert.ca . Copies will be available at the Company office, 507 Main Street South, Exeter, Ontario or may be
obtained by sending a written notice to the Company office at least 14 days before the Meeting.
Summary of Amendments made to By-law 2011-1 by By-law 2017-1
(The numeric references herein correspond with the section numbers of the By-laws)
13 50% of members required to be present in person for quorum for meeting„o consider demutualization.
14 Chair of Board to be chairperson for members and directors meetings.
17 Members of the Corporation in good standing are entitled to one vote at members' meetings.
22(c) Nominating Committee established, to recruit potential candidates for election to the board. Any person
seeking election, including those recruited by the Committee, to file notice 30 days before the election.
27(b) A Director may be removed from office by special resolution of the members.
34. Directors shall be paid remuneration as set by the Board from time to time and may be provided with benefits
provided to company employees.
37 Minutes of directors and committee meetings to be recorded by authorized person.
45 Persons authorized by the Board may execute documents on behalf of the company.
46 Agents and other producers to be appointed by the board or persons authorized by the board. Board to fix their
remuneration and set policies affecting them.
53 Quarterly reports on transactions involving company investments to be given to the board.
57 Specific provisions dealing with underwriting duties of the manager deleted.
Jock Hodgert Shelagh Cleary BA, FCIP
(hair President & CEO