Nuisance Black Bear
In New York State, people and black bears often find themselves living in the same areas. With encounters nearly inevitable, it's good to know how to keep those encounters safe and enjoyable for you and the bears. A summary of the information below can also be found in the publication "Living With Bears (PDF)" (93 kB).
Discouraging Black Bears Around Home and Camp
"Good housekeeping" is a requirement in black bear country. Simple sanitation measures can be the key to preventing bears around houses and in camp areas. The following list contains techniques that we recommend to prevent attracting bears:
- Use bear resistant canisters while camping. Read more tips for discouraging bears while camping.
- Remove bird feeders for the entire summer. Bird feed such as suet and seeds are a very strong attraction for bears, even if they can't reach it. Read more about bears and bird feeders.
- Do not leave garbage outside of houses or garages. Grease, fat, bacon and other meats are extremely attractive to bears. These items should be disposed of in sealed containers. Note: Burning makes garbage more attractive.
- Clean garbage cans and other refuse containers frequently with ammonia, bleach or Lysol.
- Mask food odors in garbage cans by using camphor disks (available from some drug stores), mothballs, air fresheners, or Lysol and ammonia-soaked rags.
- Use plastic bags inside garbage cans to help hide odors.
- Store garbage cans in a secure place such as a garage, rather than storing them on a porch.
- Empty garbage dumpsters at camping areas after dinner to decrease the chance of attracting bears. Construction of a garbage storage facility may be necessary when dump facilities are not open daily.
- Remove the grease can from gas and charcoal grills after every use. Turn the grill on "High" for several minutes after you are done cooking.
- Clean barbeque pits and grills thoroughly before leaving them outside. (We recommend using aluminum foil and cleaning these items with an ammonia cleaner.)
- Do not place food outside to attract wildlife.
- Clean old refrigerators and other insulated containers that are left outside.
- Turn off kitchen exhaust fans that vent to the outside when not in use. Make sure the vent screen is cleaned regularly.
- Do not feed family pets outside. An empty dish can attract a bear.
- Leave outdoor lights on, or a radio playing, all night.
- Do not hand-feed bears from cars at campgrounds and dump sites. Note: A bear is a wild animal and should be respected. We discourage feeding practices of all types.
- Do not leave dirty diapers or diaper pails outside.
Remember: Bears are attracted by smells...With the exception of ammonia, Lysol, camphor and other strong smells, everything smells like potential bear food. Remove the food attractant and you'll remove the bear.
Bears and Bird Feeders
Although many people find it difficult to believe, an animal as large and powerful as black bear is readily attracted to bird feeders as a source of food. Black bears are for the most part vegetarians, and bird seed, even in minute quantities is a highly desirable food for them. In many cases, bird seed is the food of choice and will be sought out over other natural foods.
First and foremost, bears are readily attracted to back yards because of the presence of bird feeders. Bear nuisance complaint records from the DEC Region 3 office in New Paltz reveal that at certain times of the year bird feeders are involved in over 80% of the bear problems around houses. The problem often escalates to other food sources such as garbage cans, barbecue grills, and compost piles as bears become bolder and more acclimated to people. Such activities are not in the best interest of either the bears or the homeowners.
Bears that learn to approach one house will approach other houses and invariably result in concern from unsuspecting people. Bears that become accustomed to approaching houses and people often become chronic nuisances. It is highly likely that the bears will suffer diet deficiencies from continued consumption of improper foods, end up hit by cars, or shot illegally by people who misunderstand their intentions.
What to do?
It is important to break the pattern of black bears coming to houses for food. Fortunately, most bird feeding activities occur during the winter when bears are in their dens. When bears emerge from their dens in March, natural foods are lacking and bird feeders represent a readily abundant food source. It is highly recommended that bird feeding activities cease at that time if you live in bear country. It is also important to remember that residual seed remaining on the ground will be attractive to the bears. It should either be removed or treated with a covering scent such as ammonia. Some people start feeding again during early summer and closely monitor their feeders. If any bears return, they immediately cease their operation.
Many people feel they can out-smart the bears by taking their feeders in at night. This may offer some relief, however there is usually enough residual feed from daytime feeding to continue to attract bears. Others attempt to place the feeder high and out of reach of the bear. A bears sense of smell is so keenly developed that the feeder will continue to attract the bear. This often does not discourage the bear from spending considerable time near the bird feeder trying to figure out how to reach it. Some people have had success by mixing cayenne pepper with the bird seed to make it less palatable. This practice has some value with individual bears who will learn to avoid specific feeders, however in bear country, every bear that finds the feeder will have to knock it down to learn that it contains pepper and is not a good source of food. Removal of the attraction is the only long-term solution.
Some homeowners receive much satisfaction from their bird feeding activities and are reluctant to stop feeding. However, the incidental and indirect feeding of bears, such as can occur with bird feeders, is illegal after written notice from DEC. Homeowners are urged to discontinue bird feeding activities before bear problems develop.
As is the case with almost all bear-human conflicts, if you take away the food you will take away the bear. Black bears, like all wildlife, are best appreciated at a distance.
