Bear-haven: Bruin shuts down Woodroffe

By Charlie Senack, Barrhaven Independent

A black bear is on the loose in Barrhaven, closing down streets near Woodroffe Ave.

Earl Mulligan Drive is closed between Woodroffe Avenue and Woodgate Way as police await further guidance from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources. 

The bear, which was first spotted at about 8:30 am, appears to have settled into a resident’s backyard, according to police. They added roads are closed in the area to “limit disturbance to the bear.”

“The bear appears to be injured and we are awaiting input and expertise from @ONresources (Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources) for further direction,” they said on Twitter.

Police also side with a “sizeable” adult bear, which has spent a greater part of the afternoon sleeping. When the bear who’s being called Bruin wakes up, they hope to herd the animal away from the residential neighborhood. They are waiting so the bear will be in a more cooperative mood.

On Twitter Monday morning, reports of the bear started to appear. OC Transpo said soon after they were detouring Route 171 buses in the area of Earl Mulligan Drive and Fallowfield Road due to reports of a wild animal. The route stretches from Fallowfield Station to Marketplace Station.

The bear sighting in Barrhaven comes a day after a similar black bear was spotted several times in the area of Terry Fox Drive between Castlefrank Road and Cope Drive. Police urge nearby residents Sunday night to avoid the area and use caution if walking outdoors alongside small pets.

This is not the first time bears have been spotted in Barrhaven. In 2020, a bear was spotted wandering through the park and ride at Fallowfield station. And in 2015, a young black bear was seen searching for food near Prince of Wales Dr. and Jockvale Rd. Earlier in 2021, a bear was also seen roaming through the fields at the Greenbelt Research Farm.

It’s unclear if the bear spotted in Barrhaven is the same one which was seen in parts of Kanata.