Town News

News Releases

Fisheries and Land Resources
March 15, 2018

Public Advisory: Polar Bear Warning Issued for Northern Peninsula Areas

Residents are cautioned about polar bears reported in several areas on the Northern Peninsula, including St. Anthony, Great Brehat, St.Carol’s, Roddickton and Griquet.

Residents who live in areas where polar bears have been known to frequent are encouraged to take appropriate steps to avoid an encounter with bears. This includes being aware of your surroundings, keeping pets inside or under close supervision, travelling in groups when possible, never approaching a fresh kill or carcass, and adhering to the proper storage, collection and disposal of garbage to avoid attracting bears into communities and backyards.

Under no circumstances should residents approach the polar bear. While every encounter is different, if an individual encounters a polar bear, they should first take note of the bear’s behavior. If the bear does not know you are there:

Quietly back away and leave the area;
Try and stay downwind of the animal;
Keep an eye on the bear; and
Never get between a bear and her cubs.
If the bear has seen or smelled you:

Remain calm;
Give the bear space and a route to get away;
Back away, get out of the situation, never run;
If you must speak, do so calmly and firmly; and
Avoid direct eye contact with the bear.
Anyone sighting a polar bear is asked to contact the local District Forestry and Wildlife Office in Roddickton at 709-457-2300 or St. Anthony at 709-454-8435 or 709-457-7243 after regular office hours.

– 30 –

Media contact
Connie Boland
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6409
connieboland@gov.nl.ca

2018 03 15 1:25 p.m.

It has been brought to our attention snowmobiles are being used in the Towns protected water supply area. Under the Water Resources Act such activity is illegal. Please avoid snowmobiling in the East Brook Pond and First Clay Cove Pond area.

Stop! Before you flush or drain the sink – Look!

Towels, facecloths, mop heads, paper towels, caps to bottles, toys, baby wipes, and grease when flushed down your toilet and washed down the drain of your sink is causing BIG PROBLEMS for our town waste water/sewer system. Ever notice the big silver boxes with a red light on the top located around Town. This is the Town’s lift stations which are used to pump wastewater or sewage from different parts of Town to the septic tank. When the red light is blinking it means there is trouble in the lift station.

In these stations there are motors that chop up the raw sewage before pumping it through the system. Large cloth-like and plastic items cannot be easily chopped up and often cause problems. These problems can become VERY COSTLY for the Town to repair. Before you flush the toilet or drain your sink please be careful not to wash down large non-biodegradable items in our Town’s septic system.

It’s the season of joy…
A Perfect time to say…
May smiles always surround you…
May everyday bring excitement…
May there always be laughter and music…
May your life be full of wonderful treats…
May you suceed in all you do…
And may all your wishes come true!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

On behalf of the Town of Roddickton-Bide Arm Council and Staff, we wish you and your families a safe and wonderful Holiday Season,

Mayor Sheila Fitzgerald

With winter around the corner, we would like to remind residents of some winter details:

– Please reduce speed in winter conditions.

– Take steps to secure your home, such as, cleaning your chimney, checking fire alarms, and planning for power outages and major snow falls.

– Residents are reminded to move roadside garbage boxes and other structures back from side of streets (minimum 20 feet on side streets and 33 feet on main streets. This is approximate measurements). The Town and Snow Clearing Contractor assumes no responsibility for damaged garbage boxes and structures due to snow clearing.

– When winter parking, please move your vehicle off the shoulder of Town streets. Vehicles may be ticketed by the RCMP for parking on the street reservations.

– When removing snow from driveways, please do not deposit on Towns streets; this is against Town regulations and highway regulations. Charges may be laid by the RCMP.