By Angela Gemmill

Bears follow their stomachs.

When they can’t find food in the wilderness they will follow the scent to where there is what they consider food.

A poor blueberry crop this year is one of the main reasons for the increase in nuisance bears in residential areas across Greater Sudbury.

But Mike Hall, a Biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources warns to control attractants on your property and the bears will go elsewhere.

Because bears can’s find natural food sources they go in search of things like garbage, birdseed or barbecue grease, which all give off odours.

Hall says police should be the first call if public safety is at risk with a nuisance bear.

The M-N-R is brought in to help with back-up support using various tools to respond, but Hall says dispatch is always their last resort.

(Picture: Courtesy of James Warner Smith; A black bear getting into garbage on a deck in Greater Sudbury)