Food shortages are causing an increase in bear sightings in the region.
Ontario's Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry says parts of the prvince are experiencing shortages of natural food shortages for bears, with the Chapleau and Wawa areas experiencing "sporadic berries".
The Ministry says that shortage is directly related to human-bear interactions, prompting an increase in reports of problem bears, as they're searching for alternate food sources, particularly to fatten up for hibernation.
As a result, the Ministry's urging everyone be careful not to attract bears, storing garbage securely in an enclosed area until the morning of collection, cleaning food residue and grease from outdoor barbecue grills after use, putting away bird feeders until the winter, keeping pet food indoors, and picking ripe fruit from trees and off the ground.