Everyone needs a little luxury now and again. Even wild animals. That’s why one black bear thought he hit the jackpot when he found a plush mattress to lie on in a Kingfisher Lake, Ontario landfill.
Black bears are often spotted in northern Ontario.
And a garbage dump is an ideal chill spot a black bear. But this black bear seemed to be valuing his relaxation time rather than hunting for some food.
Keira Mamakwa wasn’t surprised to see a black bear around 5 p.m. on a summer evening while visiting the dump, which is 500 km north of the First Nation community Thunder Bay.
But she was surprised to see him comfy on the mattress “just vibing'” as she explained in a Facebook post.
The bear was only about 15 feet away from her but she just thought it was so hilarious that she needed to snap some photos.
“Bears are very funny around here,” she said.
Her post was shared about 6,000 times.
The bear didn’t seem to welcome all the attention. He looked up at her at one point as if he was annoyed that she was interrupting his cozy time.
“He’s like ‘Damn is this memory foam?” one person said in Facebook post’s comments.
“Wouldn’t she like that in her cave for hibernation!” said another.
“Someone’s trash is another one’s treasure,” and another.
Black bears are the most common and widely distributed type of bear in North America.
You can find them in places that are forested, on the beach, and in the alpine zone.
Black bears in different regions can have very different diets, denning traditions, and life cycles from each other. Their behavior can also vary.
Black bears are pretty common in Ontario.
“Not every bear sighting is an emergency situation. Here is who to call if you encounter a bear,” ontario.ca‘s website explains.
In Ontario, you’re only supposed to call 911 if there is an immediate threat to personal safety or if the bear exhibits threatening or aggressive behavior.
This includes:
- entering a school yard when school is in session
- when it stalks people or lingers at a site
- enters or tries to enter your house
- wanders into a public gathering
- kills livestock and pets while lingering on site
Residents are advised to call the Bear Wise line for advice at 1-866-514-2327 or TTY 705-945-7641 if a bear:
- roams around or checks garbage cans
- breaks into a shed where garbage or food is stored
- is in a tree
- pulls down a bird feeder or knocks over a barbecue
- moves through a backyard or field but does not linger
The best thing to do when encountering a bear is to remain calm. The noiser a bear is the better because it is their attempt to scare you off and warn you.
It’s best to back away slowly while keeping the bear in sight as you wait for it to leave.
You can also try throwing objects, waving your arms, and using a whistle. You might have to yell or use an air horn if the bear doesn’t leave right away.
You should also retreat to your home, car, or shelter as soon as possible. If you have food, drop it and slowly move away.
If there’s a bear in a tree, leave it alone. It will only come down when it feels safe. You should ONLY play dead if you encounter a mother and her cubs.
Having bear spray in a bear-populated area is also a good idea. If you are attacked, “fight back with everything you have.”
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