RED LAKE / EAR FALLS, ON – The Ontario Provincial Police are updating the public on the death of a Red Lake man, Peter FRANCZAK a 67-year-old man who fell victim to a black bear attack.
Police state that “On July 20th, 2020 members of the Red Lake & Ear Falls Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were advised of an overdue male who left home in the morning to pick blueberries on Tuzyk Road off Highway 105, between the Township of Ear Falls & Municipality of Red Lake.
With the assistance of the Northwest Region Emergency Response Team (ERT), officers located a deceased 67-year-old male from Red Lake.
A black bear was located in the vicinity of the deceased and was dispatched by officers.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) was been contacted and the bear was shipped to Guelph for testing.
A post mortem was conducted on July 24th, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario and it was determined that the cause of death was consistent with a ‘bear attack’.
We are reminding people to be aware of their surroundings when outdoors. If a bear poses an immediate threat to public safety by exhibiting threatening or aggressive behavior, call 911 or your local police.
For more information regarding bear, safety visit the MNRF website at www.ontario.ca/bearwise
