40 bears struck and killed along Highway 400 in cottage country: OPP

OPP asks motorists to beware of bears on Highway 400 north of Barrie. (SUBMITTED OPP)

Forty bears were killed on Highway 400 during the month of August.

In the latest collision, a mother bear was hit by a tractor-trailer on Tuesday morning in the northbound lanes of Highway 400 near South Bay Road.

The adult bear died and left three small cubs to fend for themselves.

OPP from the Southern Georgian Bay detachment responded to a call to remove an animal carcass from the road and came upon two of the young cubs.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) responded and was able to trap all three cubs and transport them to Bear With Us – a wildlife rehabilitator – that will release the cubs into the wild next spring.

OPP says although this scenario has a mixed outcome, other situations have not worked out so well for the bears as 40 bears have been struck and killed by vehicles on Highway 400 between Honey Harbour Road, Georgian Bay Township and the Town of Parry Sound during August.

Police are asking motorists to be mindful that wildlife collisions do happen. Motorists are asked to drive within the posted speed limits, scan well ahead for possible wildlife on the shoulder/ditch or roadway and use proper headlamps.