Bears are coming out of hibernation early in Ontario due to mild temperatures. What does this mean?

A milder winter and steadily warming temperatures are having a significant impact on the sleep patterns and movement of Ontario’s wildlife, with at least one expert saying it’s unclear how climate change will impact ecosystems long-term.

A milder winter and steadily warming temperatures are having a significant impact on the sleep patterns and movement of Ontario’s wildlife, with at least one expert saying it’s unclear how climate change will impact ecosystems long-term.

Earlier this month, the provincial government released a statement warning residents to be “bear wise” as officials have received reports of the animals coming out of hibernation early.

The statement cited the winter’s “mild weather and lack of snow.”

Annie Langlois, biologist and co-ordinator of the Hinterland Who’s Who program at the Canadian Wildlife Federation, says that while bears often wake up during hibernation, it is unusual for them not to go back to sleep.

This is problematic as there is no natural food growing for the animals to feed on, she said.

“That's the biggest issue that we're coming across right now because wildlife, basically they need a habitat where all their needs are met in terms of food and in terms of shelter,” Langlois told CTV News Toronto during an interview.

“So animals that are waking up too early from hibernation, (or) are coming to Canada earlier than usual, they're met with conditions that are not the best for them.”