Bear-y rare sight in Oshawa neighbourhood

Black bears emerge from their dens in the spring resulting in increased bear sightings and encounters with humans

Published May 27, 2026  •  2 minute read

Residents of an Oshawa neighbourhood spotted a black bear roaming the area of Fernwood Ave. and Oshawa Blvd. N., southeast of Ritson Rd. N. and Rossland Rd. E., on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Photo by Downtown Oshawa /Facebook group

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Oshawa residents were taken aback by the sight of a young black bear sauntering through their neighbourhood on Wednesday morning.

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Photos posted on the Facebook group Downtown Oshawa show the bear strolling along the side of a residential street and messages posted in response to the bear sighting suggest it was in the area of Fernwood Ave. and Oshawa Blvd. N. — southeast of Ritson Rd. N. and Rossland Rd. E.

“There is what appears to be a young bear in Oshawa right now,” one post read.

Another member of the group asked: “Where’d it even wander from? First time I’ve seen a bear in Oshawa.”

Shrinking habitat to blame?

Others were quick to blame humans for shrinking the natural habitat that wildlife, such as bears, typically call home.

“This makes me sad. He must be so scared,” one Facebook user wrote.

“Hopefully the MNR (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources) captures it safely and relocate it where there’s a whole bunch of berries,” posted another.

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources — which operates the Bear Wise Program provides advice to municipalities and the public about how to keep black bears away from urban areas and how to manage problem bears — did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Toronto Sun.

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Nor did Durham Regional Police.

So it’s unknown if MNR or police responded to the bear sighting.

Residents of an Oshawa neighbourhood spotted a black bear roaming the area of Fernwood Ave. and Oshawa Blvd. N., southeast of Ritson Rd. N. and Rossland Rd. E., on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Photo by Downtown Oshawa /Facebook group

Sightings increase as bears emerge from hibernation

After hibernating through the winter, black bears emerge from their dens between mid-March and late April, resulting in increased bear sightings.

“As bears wake up after a winter of hibernation, they are faced with a scarcity of natural food sources, leading black bears to forage for food in garbage cans and bird feeders,” the Bear Wise Program’s website explains.

Ontario Wildlife Rescue Director Sandy Donald, who explained MNR is typically tasked with removing bears from residential communities, said bears have wandered into Oshawa neighbourhoods before but such sightings are rare.

Bear appeared to be a yearling

Based on the images, he said the bear appeared to be a yearling — an independent bear in its second year of life. 

“I don’t think that’s a cub,” Donald said. “I think it’s at least a yearling, if not older.”

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