Ontario bears are waking up from hibernation earlier due to mild temperatures [Video]

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.”

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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 …