Armstrong – NEWS – One individual has been transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries following a black bear attack in a remote area near Armstrong.
On June 12, 2024, at approximately 8:30 a.m., members of the Armstrong Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police, along with Emergency Medical Services (EMS), responded to a report of a bear attack inside a camp in Wabakimi Provincial Park.
Upon arrival, officers located one individual who had sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The victim was promptly transported to the hospital by EMS for treatment. The bear had left the area by the time emergency responders arrived.
Safety Reminder
Individuals are reminded to exercise extreme caution when encountering bears and other wildlife. For information on how to prevent and report encounters with black bears, contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry or visit the Bear Wise page on the Ontario website.
Emergency Situations:
Call 911 or your local police if a bear poses an immediate threat to personal safety and exhibits threatening or aggressive behaviour, such as:
- Entering a schoolyard when school is in session
- Stalking people and lingering at the site
- Entering or attempting to enter a residence
- Wandering into a public gathering
- Killing livestock/pets and lingering at the site
Police will respond first to an emergency situation but may request assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry during daylight hours.
Non-Emergency Encounters:
Call the toll-free Bear Wise reporting line 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
This line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from April 1 to November 30.
