Black Bear Hibernation Season Coming To End - How To Keep Your Yard Safe
Spring is officially back, and along with the emerging greenery and warming weather comes a renewed activity in the wildlife that calls Massachusetts home.
Spring is officially back, and along with the emerging greenery and warming weather comes a renewed activity in the wildlife that calls Massachusetts home. One such animal that typically begins to leave their winter den during March and April is the Black Bear.
While encountering Black Bears is a common occurrence in Western Mass, over the past few years bear sightings in Eastern MA are on the rise. Black bears have even made it so far East into coastal communities such as Plymouth and Duxbury. With this increased activity of Black Bears in the East expected to rise, it is important that residents understand how to safely co-exist with these beautiful and fascinating creatures.
How To Protect Your Yard From Bears
Though it can not be denied that seeing a bear in your yard can be exciting and offer a good photo opportunity, at the end of the day it is far better for them to stay away. Not only do bears pose a threat to pets and property, but having them too close to humans often inevitably leads to them being hurt or killed.
The best thing to do is keep them away from your home and yard. Towards this goal, Mass.gov has provided several tips to protect your yard from bears:
Bird Feeders:
If you live in an area with bears, it is best to avoid bird feeders altogether. Bears finding a bird feeder, bird seed, corn, or other bird food will often revisit that site. Bird feeders draw bears closer to people, resulting in bears losing their fear of people. This process is called habituation. It’s not safe for bears or people to be close to one another.
If you choose to put out feeders, doing so in the winter when bears are denned decreases the chances of a bear coming to your feeder. In general, most bears are denned from mid-December through February.
Although most bears in Massachusetts enter winter dens, MassWildlife biologists have tracked bears that remained active for some or all of the winter if food is available. It is important that you remove the entire feeder at the first sign of bear activity.
For those people who enjoy birds in their yard, MassWildlife suggests growing native plants, shrubs, and trees to attract birds. Adding a water feature is a big draw for birds. Taking these actions may increase the diversity of birds you see and will prevent the unnatural feeding of bears and other kinds of neighborhood wildlife.
Some bears have learned to empty bird feeders without destroying the feeder. DO NOT continue to fill a feeder.
Do not leave empty feeders out. Residual smell and the sight of feeders can still attract bears.
Garbage, compost, and other attractants:
Store all garbage in closed containers in a garage or outbuilding. Do not leave your garbage barrels outside overnight. Rather, put them by the roadside before pickup.
Using double bags or sprinkling with ammonia will help reduce odors. Bears and other wild and domestic animals will tip cans and scatter garbage. Smelly cans may attract bears even if there isn’t anything in them, so store garbage cans inside.
Compost responsibly. Do not throw meat scraps, greasy, oily, or sweet materials in your compost pile. These kinds of food attract bears and other animals.
Bear-proof garbage cans may be available from municipalities or waste management contractors. In communities where bears are more common, bear-proof dumpsters are recommended for apartments, condos, and campgrounds.
Clean greasy barbecues and grills after each use. Do not leave food scraps, grease containers, or spilled grease in your yard.
Pet owners:
Pet food is a tasty treat for bears so don’t leave pet food outdoors.
The presence of a dog could trigger a bear to be aggressive. Keep dogs leashed and never let dogs chase or interact with bears.
Check your yard for bears before letting your dog out.
If you encounter a bear while with your dog, back away slowly and leave the area.
Bees, chickens, crops, and livestock:
Use electric fencing to keep bears out and protect your property.
You can learn more about properly and safely installing an electric fence with Mass.gov's "Electric fencing guide to protect chicken coops, beehives, and other livestock from black bear damage"
Though there is no need to fear encountering them in the wilds of Massachusetts, as a reward for reaching this far in the article please enjoy this panda.