Farmers can’t bear crop damage: “It looks like a 747 justed landed in your field,” the American hunter drawls in his heavy southern accent.

Indeed that’s what Chris Judd’s corn fields look like. Acres and acres of the crop are flattened. But it wasn’t a plane. Just a hungry bear.

Every year Judd and other farmers like him in Pontiac lose thousands of dollars worth of corn to famished black bears. But this year the Quebec government is giving farmers here the tools to fighting back.

Pressure by the Union des producteurs des agricoles (UPA) forced the government to allow controlled hunting on farmers’ fields in the Outaouais. Hunters, mainly Americans, are brought in by outfitters and given a license to hunt on designated farmers’ fields.

Judd estimates the number of bears in the area this year is as high as it was in 1995. That’s the year the bears were so bold and hungry they came into towns and villages.

Culbute Museum caps 150th anniversary of Chichester: The history of Chichester was put on display Saturday as part of the municipality’s 150th anniversary.

With the snip of a pair of scissors on a ribbon, Mayor Donald Gagnon opened the Culbute Museum to a large crowd gathered in front of the former municipal office building on Hwy 148. Built in the early 20’s, the building housed different enterprises, including a general store before becoming the municipal office about 30 years ago.

Gagnon was joined by MP Robert Bertrand, MNA Robert Middlemiss, Pontiac MRC Warden Robert Ladouceur and Pro-Warden Jack Graham in the opening ceremonies.

Bertrand said the museum will recognize not only those who developed Chichester, but those who “contributed to the social and economic development of Pontiac.”