Environment Division Raises Awareness for Annual Bear Sightings

May 10, 2023

COMMUNITY NOTICE

For immediate release: For more information:
Onerahtohkó:wa/May 9, 2023 Communications Department,

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe

Tel: (518) 358-2272

Environment Division Raises Awareness for Annual Bear Sighting/Encounters

AKWESASNE — The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Environment Division would like to raise awareness for the annual bear sighting season and offer helpful tips to keep wandering bears away. Bear sightings in Akwesasne are becoming increasingly common and can pose a risk to the community if careful measures are not taken.

In the instance that a bear is spotted you never approach, surround or attempt to touch the bear. If an encounter is unavoidable, leave a clear path for the bear to exit and slowly back away, never run. It is important to note that bears are more afraid of you than you are of them. If the bear does not leave the area, from a safe distance, make noise, clap, yell or honk your car horn.

To reduce the incidence of a chance encounter with a wandering bear, it is important to take the following precautions. Store trash in a container with a tight lid in a secure location and only put garbage out on the morning of collection days. Thoroughly clean barbeque grills after each use and run the grill on “high” to burn off all remaining grease. Ensure all food is brought indoors, including coolers and pet foot containers.

Bears are attracted to all sorts of smells. Eliminating all possible food sources completely or keeping it in a controlled area will lower the chance of a bear encounter.

Cooperation among everyone in the community is the most effective way to address the ongoing risk associated with increased bear presence. For more information on the risks and prevention of bear presence, please contact the SRMT Environment Division at environment@srmt-nsn.gov. To report a bear sighting contact animal control at (518) 358 2273 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. If you see or encounter a bear and you feel it poses any threat to public safety contact the Saint Regis Tribal Police at (518) 358-9200.

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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.