Bees and Black Bears

This post is for any of our beekeepers who are dealing with a frequent or bothersome bear in their apairy location. The information was provided to us by the OBA. Thank you to Anne for bringing this forward.



Dear OBA Members

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) has released a proposal titled "Black Bear Preliminary Population Objective Ranges" for public consultation. The proposal outlines new population targets for Black Bears across Ontario, including significant proposed increases in several regions with substantial commercial and hobby beekeeping activity.

The consultation is open until January 5, 2026, (that's not much time) and is available on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) at the following notice: ERO Notice 025-0761

Link: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-0761

Of particular concern are the population objectives outlined in Appendices A and B of the proposal. For example, Bruce and Grey Counties are currently estimated to have approximately 270 (+/- 80) Black Bears, and the Ministry is proposing to increase this to a target range of 400 to 600. Similar upward adjustments are proposed for multiple regions across Ontario.

For Ontario's beekeepers, unmanaged increases in bear densities carry direct and material implications, including but not limited to:

• Increased predation pressure on apiaries located on private land, woodlots, conservation areas, and agricultural properties.

• Elevated risk of hive destruction and resulting financial loss, particularly for operations without access to subsidized fencing or with hives deployed across multiple remote yards.

• Additional workload and preventative costs for commercial and small-scale beekeepers already managing increasing regulatory, disease, and operational pressures.

• Challenges for new entrants who may lack the capital to implement bear-proofing measures at scale.

The OBA believes it is important that beekeepers understand the proposed changes and consider providing feedback through the ERO process. Individual beekeeper submissions help demonstrate the direct, practical consequences that wildlife management decisions can have on agricultural producers.

We encourage all members and all Local Bee Associations to review the proposal and submit a response before the consultation deadline. Submissions may wish to address:

• How current bear interactions already affect your beekeeping operation.

• How increased bear populations could impact hive management, overwintering, and apiary site selection.

• The need for the Ministry to consider agricultural apiaries explicitly in its wildlife management planning.

• The importance of coordinated mitigation supports, such as electric fencing programs, if higher bear populations are pursued.

We would appreciate your assistance in sharing this notice within your community so that beekeepers across the province are aware and able to participate in the consultation.

Thank you for your attention and engagement on this emerging issue. If you have operational examples, incident data, or additional insights you believe the OBA should reference in its own submission, please feel free to share them.

Sincerely,Ontario Beekeepers' Association

5484 Hwy 6, Guelph, ON N1H 6J2 Phone (905) 636-0661www.ontariobee.com