A bear entered a Nipigon, Ont., couple’s home on Tuesday night and attacked them, prompting the family’s dog to contain the wild animal until police arrived.
The bear entered the home’s back door when the couple opened it to let their dog out around 11 p.m. ET, said Kim Rodak, a spokesperson for Northwest Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), told CBC on Wednesday.
“At that point, the bear either charged or basically just came in,” she said.
Amid the attack, the couple escaped to a bedroom and barricaded themselves while they called 911 for help. The bear wandered around the house until it somehow ended up in the basement, said Rodak.
The family’s dog held the bear off until police arrived, she said.
“The dog just stood her ground and kept barking at the bear in order to keep it down there,” Rodak.
Couple, dog injured but will recover, police say
The couple were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“They both sustained quite a few lacerations and bites from the bear and they were hospitalized, but they are expected to be released at some point today,” said Rodak.
The dog, which the owners describe as a mixed breed, was also injured.
“She received stitches and some excellent veterinary care, and she’s going to be perfectly fine,” Rodak said.
She said the officers who responded to the call had to kill the bear for public safety.
Lack of berries may be driving bears closer to town: mayor
Suzanne Kukko is the mayor of Nipigon, a town with a population of about 1,500 some 120 kilometres east of Thunder Bay.
Kukko said residents were already on edge as bears seem to be becoming bolder.
“People have been really scared, apprehensive about going out alone, going for walks and things like that.”
Kukko has seen many bears during the nearly 20 years she’s lived in Nipigon, but this is the first attack she’s aware of, she said.
The mayor also said many people along Superior’s North shore have reported bear sightings over the past three weeks.
Bears often walk long distances in the fall while searching for food as they try to fatten up before hibernating.
Kukko said some believe bears are coming closer to town than usual because they’re struggling to find food.
“Because of our lack of blueberries this season, we’re assuming that’s where all of the bear activity in town has come from,” she said.
“I know a lot of people in town too feel sorry for them. It’s really sad that they’re so starving.”
Tips to reduce bear confrontations
Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) has also received several reports of bears throughout the city in recent weeks.
In a Facebook post, the service suggests not feeding or getting close to the animals and to keep food waste in secure containers.
“If you encounter a bear, slowly back away while keeping it in sight. If a bear is in a tree, do not surround it.”
If a bear is aggressive or posing an immediate safety treat, call police, the post says.
Non-emergency encounters should be reported to the Ministry of Natural Resource’s Bear Wise line at 1-866-514-2327.
