WAKAW — The RM of Fish Creek has issued a warning for individuals living or working in the southeast corner of the municipality after evidence was discovered of a bear attack that killed one 350-pound calf.
The producer found one carcass, and two other calves are missing and presumed to have suffered the same fate. Residents, producers, and visitors were advised to use extreme caution when working or travelling in the area. In Saskatchewan, several predator species are known to prey on livestock, with coyotes being the most common, but wolves, black bears, and cougars also pose risks in some areas.
The animals were owned by R & F Livestock Inc., located near Cudworth, and the attack occurred on land owned in the area of Township Road 414 and Range Road 2271. Livestock, particularly young or vulnerable animals, are easy prey, especially when pastures are isolated from human activity or near predator habitat. Once a predator learns that livestock are an easy and available food source, it may return repeatedly, increasing the risk of ongoing losses.
On the morning of Tuesday, July 28th, another producer discovered a newly killed calf, approximately 10 km west of where the first kill was discovered. Bears kill with bites to the head, top of the shoulders, withers and spine. They open the body cavity and consume internal organs first, especially the liver and other vital organs, followed by the hindquarters. Bears commonly peel back the hide from the meat, often leaving it mostly intact with multiple large holes.
Black bears in Saskatchewan are primarily found in the northern forests; however, their range extends south into forests and valleys, such as the Touchwood Hills, Moose Mountain Provincial Park and the Qu’Appelle and South Saskatchewan River valleys. Starting in mid to late summer, bears begin to enter a phase termed ‘hyperphagia’ where they are consuming as much food as they can to build weight before winter hibernation.
Producers may legally shoot wolves, black bears and cougars on their property to protect livestock without requiring a hunting license. Any wolf, cougar or black bear killed under these circumstances must be reported to the Ministry of Environment. The Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation’s Wildlife Damage Compensation Program reimburses producers for livestock, fowl or specialty animals injured or killed by predators, but no compensation is issued without evidence. Eligible predators include, but are not limited to, coyotes, wolves, bears, cougars, lynx, foxes, bobcats and birds of prey. Where predation problems persist, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCIC) may hire a predation specialist to assess and resolve the issue. These specialists are skilled hunters and trappers who can remove problem animals and provide advice on preventing future attacks.
Michael Runtz, a retired associate professor of biology at Ottawa's Carleton University, advises that if people do encounter a black bear, not to try to run away. “And certainly, do not play dead, as has been recommended for grizzly bears,” he said in an interview with CBC.
If someone encounters a bear, they should stop and stay calm. If the bear is unaware of you, slowly back away while keeping an eye on it. If the bear knows you are there, back away slowly, again keeping an eye on it, while doing whatever you can to make yourself appear bigger and more aggressive, such as shouting, since bears are generally averse to sudden, loud, and unnatural noises, raising your arms or even throwing things at the bear to distract it if it is following.
