BearWild

By: Angela Gemmill

The provincial government has come up with a short term solution to the black bear problem, which Sudbury residents experienced all too well this summer.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry announced today the return of the spring bear hunt, as a five year pilot project throughout all 88-wildlife management units.

Sudbury M-P-P Glenn Thibeault says the results from the recent two-year pilot were inconclusive, so this time around there are a few changes.

Before it was just open to 8 management units, and only to residents in Ontario.

The spring hunt will also be open to anyone who wants a license, and Thibeault says the MNRF will monitor the number of hunters involved and how many bears are harvested.

Thibeault says anyone found hunting bear cubs or female bears with cubs, could face a 25-thousand dollar fine and a one-year prison term.