More tips for preventing conflicts with black bears. Keep dogs leashed and stay a respectful distance away. Do not approach bears or intrude between a female bear and her cubs. wildlife, and avoid eating sweets that may invite wild animals. Make the animal aware of your presence by clapping, talking, or making other sounds while slowly backing away. national and state boundaries and cities is called a Political map. If you see a bear, it may not immediately recognize you as a human and may be curious until it scents you. Normal trail noise will alert bears to your presence and they will often disappear before you see them. In the woodsīlack bears are usually wary of people. If you continue to see bears, check your property and remove any potential food sources. Habituated bears may ignore minor harassment. The bear will usually leave-accompanied by its young. If a bear is feeding in an area where it doesn’t belong, such as your yard, on a porch, or in a dumpster, step outside, yell, and make lots of noise. If you see a bear in your neighborhoodĪ bear’s first response to something unusual is to leave. Keep open, mowed areas on all sides of hives and coops and do not locate hives or coops in abandoned areas or close to brushy, overgrown areas. Electric fences are most effective when put up and continuously charged before the first damage occurs. PROTECT BEES AND CHICKENS: Use electric fencing to safeguard hives and coops.

Do not leave food scraps, grease containers, or spilled grease in your yard. Clean greasy barbecues and grills after each use. Remove other attractantsĪlways feed pets indoors. Trash should always be placed inside the dumpster, and never left accessible to bears. Businesses and campgrounds in bear country should invest in bear-proof dumpsters with a locking lid. If you compost, do not throw meat scraps, greasy, oily, or sweet materials in your compost pile. Using double bags or sprinkling with ammonia will help reduce odors. Store all garbage in closed containers in a garage or outbuilding. Put trash barrels out the morning of trash pickup, not the previous evening. Bring in any feeders at the first sign of bear activity. In mild winters, some bears may be active year-round. If you choose to put out bird feeders, doing so during this time may decrease the chance of a bear coming to your feeder. In general, most bears are denned from mid-December through February. If you live in an area with bears, it is best to not set out bird feeders. Removal of food sources and other attractants is key to preventing problems with bears. Bears that have been habituated (accustomed) and dependent on human-associated foods, such as bird seed, trash, and pet food, are likely to cause damage and become a nuisance.

Us wildlife population density map