Residents across Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, will notice humane bear traps on public property starting this week, after the Ministry of Natural Resources took action to deal with black bears moving close to people during the day. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service shared the news on May 27, 2026, urging everyone to stay alert outdoors and report any bear activity in their area.
“The traps have been set due to public safety concerns related to bears being in close proximity to people during daylight hours,” police said in a news release. The step comes less than a year after a serious bear attack in August 2025 sent two people to hospital. That incident happened near Peoples Road and Fifth Line East, where the pair likely came between a mother bear and her cubs. They were treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
The Ministry says the traps are designed to safely relocate bears that could put people at risk, while also looking out for the animals’ welfare. Police are asking everyone not to approach, touch, or interfere with the traps in any way. Tampering can create danger for the public, responding officers, and the bears themselves.
Sault Ste. Marie has a long history of living alongside bears, and was actually the first police service in Ontario to sign a formal bear-control protocol with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Provincial Police back in April 2004. That agreement has become a model for other towns facing similar challenges.
If you come across a bear, keep your distance right away. For non-emergency encounters, call the Ministry’s Bear Wise reporting line at 1-866-514-2327. In an emergency, don’t hesitate to dial 911. The police say staying calm and giving the animal space is the safest thing to do.
