Tips on avoiding
unbearable conflicts
Although black bears are generally shy and usually avoid humans,
they are opportunistic and will search for human food supplies when
natural foods are not available. Maintaining a sustainable bear
population in New Hampshire depends on minimizing human-bear conflicts.
The majority of conflicts can be avoided. Here are some tips on
preventing bear problems:
Residential prevention
Take
down, clean and put away bird feeders by April 1. Store the bird
feeder until late fall. (Birds will do just fine with the natural
foods available.) Bear damage to bird feeders is a common and
growing spring complaint.
Clean up spilled seed below feeder stations.
Keep garbage in airtight containers inside
your garage or storage area. Double bagging and the use of ammonia
will reduce odors that attract bears.
Garbage for pickup should be put outside the
morning of collection and not the night before.
Do not place meat or sweet food scraps in
your compost pile.
Do not leave pet food or dishes outdoors at
night.
Clean up and/or store outdoor grills after
use.
Use a bear-proof dumpster.
Never intentionally feed bears to attract
them to your yard for viewing. <return to top
of page>
Camping prevention
Maintain a clean campsite.
Put food scraps and fat drippings in closed
containers, not in the campfire.
Do not cook or eat in your tent.
Keep food and cooking gear separate from your
sleeping area.
Keep food in a closed-up vehicle or hang food
at least 10 feet off the ground and five feet out on a limb that
will not support a bear.
A
fed bear is a dead bear!
When black bears are fed, they quickly learn unbearlike behaviors.
Sadly, this may lead to serious, often deadly, results for the bear.
You can prevent this by following the simple guidelines above.
<return to top of page>
Don't feed the habit
As snow disappears in the early spring hungry
bears leave their winter dens. Early spring offers the promise
of abundant bear foods, but yields no such benefit until grasses
grow, bulbs sprout and flowers bloom. Hungry bears lack the option
to wait for spring growth. Although bears are generally shy and
usually avoid humans, their need for food and their fondness for
sunflower seeds often draw them to New Hampshire bird feeders.
Here are some suggestions to prevent your bird
feeder from becoming a bear feeder:
Complete your bird feeding activities by
April 1 each year. Don't feed the birds until late fall (the
birds will do just fine).
Bears are clever. This, coupled with their
strength and agility, make it very difficult to establish bearproof
bird feeders.
Purposeful feeding can result in the bears
getting accustomed to humans. This "habituation" of
bears may cause a variety of conflicts with humans. The end
result may be the removal (most often with lethal consequences)
of the offending bear.
Encourage your bird-feeding friends and
neighbors to adhere to these guidelines. Be reminded that many
people have an irrational fear of bears. A black bear's presence
in a residential area may create fear among neighbors and lead
to negative consequences for the bear. <return
to top of page>
Take
proper care of your garbage
Black bears are one of New Hampshire's most
magnificent big mammals. Although bears are shy and usually avoid
humans, they are also opportunistic and will search for human
food supplies when there's little natural food available. Their
keen sense of smell can lead them to trouble - both for themselves
and humans. Maintaining a sustainable bear population in New Hampshire
depends on minimizing human-bear conflicts. Take proper care of
your garbage to help avoid these conflicts.
Don't trash our bears
Keep dumpsters and trash containers secured
at night. Lock and bolt both tops and sliding side doors, if necessary
Use metal trash cans, including lids.
Choose adequate sized dumpsters. Don't let
dumpster garbage overflow.
Stabilize smaller dumpsters to prevent bears
from tipping them over.
Rinse out dumpsters with a hose, and deodorize
with ammonia if necessary
Pick up loose or spilled garbage.
Erect portable electric fences around dumpsters
to reduce bear activity, when necessary
Double-bag garbage and place it in air-tight
containers to reduce food odors that may attract bears.
If you keep garbage in a shed, keep the doors
closed tightly to prevent bears from forcing them open. If bears
get into sheds, move garbage to a more secure location and leave
shed doors open after removing attractants. Deodorize with ammonia
as necessary
Further discourage bears from approaching
dumpsters by using loud noise-making devices.
Never intentionally feed bears to attract
them to your yard for viewing. Remember... a fed bear is a dead
bear! <return to top of page>
What you should do if
you encounter a black bear
Normal trail noise should alert bears to your
presence and prompt them to move without being noticed. However,
if you see a bear, keep your distance. Make it aware of your
presence by clapping, talking or making other sounds.
If a bear does not immediately leave after
seeing you, the presence or aroma of food may be encouraging it
to stay. Remove any sight or smell of foods. Place food
items inside a vehicle or building. Occupy a vehicle or building
until the bear wanders away.
Black bears will sometimes "bluff charge"
when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand
your ground and slowly back away.
Enjoy watching black bears and other wildlife
from a distance. Respect them and their right to live in wild
New Hampshire.
Black bears do not typically exhibit aggressive
behavior, even when confronted. Their first response is to
flee. Black bears rarely attack or defend themselves against humans.
<return to top of page>
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Something's
Bruin in New Hampshire
Take
down, clean and put away bird feeders by April 1. Store the bird
feeder until late fall. (Birds will do just fine with the natural
foods available.) Bear damage to bird feeders is a common and
growing spring complaint.
