The Bear Faq(s)

Tips for Living with Bears:

  • Do you have a bear on your porch, or hanging around your yard? Make NOISE NOISE NOISE! Bang pots and pans, yell like crazy, clap your hands. Any of the above should be enough to send it packing, and it’s a good idea to teach your kids to do that too. If it keeps coming around even after you’ve eliminated all temptations, call your local NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) office.
  • If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. This is usually not a threatening behavior.
  • Bears have learned that garbage is a quick and easy food source, and they may view
    Bear walking off with garbage bag.
    your garbage as food you are intentionally providing for them. You must either remove your bear feeding station or bear proof it.
  • Birdseed is like candy to bears. Feeding birds year-round is a thing of the past.
    Bear attacking bird feeder
    Finding even an occasional tasty treat will train a bear that your lawn, and other lawns as well are welcoming places, and they will continue to visit. Feed birds in the winter and stop in the spring when the bears are out and about.
  • Never keep birdseed, dog food, horse feed, even a hamburger wrapper in your car!
    Bears will break into cars to investigate any object that smells or looks like food.
    It can be expensive, although your friends will be amused at your photos.
    Bears can open car doors!
  • To scare a bear away make loud noises and make yourself big. If you are with others, stand close together and continue to do this.
  • Wash garbage containers frequently with a disinfectant solution to remove odors. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before.
  • If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. This is usually not a threatening behavior.
  • Black bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered, threatened, or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run. Make noise!
  • If the bear does go up a tree, clear the area and give the bear time to climb down and escape.  If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area such as a vehicle or a building.

Bugged by a Bothersome Bear?
excerpted from Bear League, www.savebears.org

GET EDUCATED

The first thing a bear thinks about and his prime motivation is FOOD!
♦  Bears have a tremendous sense of smell, which guides them on their search for food.
♦  Bears are attracted to residences in the quest for an easy meal.
♦  Bear problems tend to be temporary. If the bear doesn’t find food, he moves on.
♦  Bear problems need to be addressed on a neighborhood basis. You can do all the right things but, if your neighbors don’t, the bear will stay around.

Black bears are generally docile.
♦ When given a way to avoid conflict with people they take it.
♦  Bears are not vindictive and do not ‘get mad’ when garbage or food is removed.

Black Bears are smart.
♦  They learn rapidly and know where they have found food in the past. Once they have hit ‘pay dirt’ they may damage property to get back at the food source again.
♦  Bears can pry open doors, windows, dumpsters or other structures if they can get their claws or teeth into a crack or opening.  Normally they will do this only if they smell food inside or have ‘been lucky’ before. They can easily tear through screens.

Black bears climb trees when frightened.
♦  Treed bears will come down if left alone. They may remain in a tree for several days.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Eliminate or Mask Garbage and Food Odors
♦  Deodorize garbage cans with bleach, unscented ammonia or unscented PineSol.
♦  Separate ‘wet garbage’ and keep it in an air and odor tight container. Use garbage disposal whenever possible. Freeze meat bones or other smelly items until pick-up day.
♦  Deodorize soil or other porous surfaces where garbage has been stored and other areas where the bear may have spread garbage around.
♦  Burn off BBQ grid after cooking and clean the drip can.

BE RESPONSIBLE AND TAKE ACTION!!

Eliminate the Source
♦  Install a ‘Bear Proof ’ garbage container. There are several excellent examples now available for purchase.
♦  Request a ‘Bear Proof’ dumpster from your disposal company.
♦  Put garbage out on the morning of pick-up, NOT the night before (and certainly not all week long!!)  If you can’t be there to put it out ask a neighbor to help or take it with you for disposal elsewhere.
♦  Don’t feed pets outside and don’t leave pet food outside.
♦  Don’t leave food in tents. This includes toothpaste, lotions, gum or candy.
♦  Don’t leave food or air-fresheners in vehicles. Roll up windows and lock car doors.
♦  Clean baby seats. Leave NO diapers, clean or soiled, in vehicles.
♦  Remove freezers, refrigerators and ice chests stored in open porches, garages and breezeways.
♦  Compost piles can be a serious attractant.
♦  Rinsing recyclables isn’t enough, they recognize this as garbage and will still forage through it.
♦  Keep it out of sight.
♦  Bring bird feeders and suet in at night or whenever there is no one at home. Bears will climb trees to reach an upper deck feeder.
♦  DeCON attracts Bears and LOTS of Rodents!

NEVER FEED BEARS

Inspect your property
♦  Close and lock your windows at night (or when out of the room) on accessible ground floors and decks.
♦  Don’t leave pies, baked goods, or any food in or near a windowsill or on a counter where visible. Sights and smells will be an invitation to bears.
♦ Securely block any access to potential hibernation/den sites, i.e. under decks, houses or sheds before a bear decides to take up residence.
♦  Strengthen or fortify outside doors and windows on sheds, cellars, workshops, garages or any place where food or garbage is kept.
♦  Install Electric door & window protection, it solves the break-in problem very quickly!