Now that the warm weather is on its way, the black bear population in New York is sure to be on the move. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently released a few tips you need to know to prevent nuisance bear encounters.
According to the DEC,the best way to keep nuisance bear encounters from happening is to never intentionally feed bears. Intentionally feeding bears is not only illegal but will lead to the bear becoming a serious nuisance to people and a threat to itself.
Indirect feeding of bears is also illegal and will result in bears losing their natural fear of humans, which can result in being hit by an automobile, illegally shot, or destroyed under DEC nuisance permit. Bears are meant to feed themselves and not need the assistance of humans. Some studies suggest that when a bear is fed (either directly or indirectly), its life expectancy is cut by as much as 50 percent.
Here are some more tips to follow:
- If you believe that bears are being fed, report it to the DEC.
- Stop feeding birds as soon as the snow melts.
- Clean up all seed fragments and shells left over from winter feeding.
- Dispose of garbage as frequently as possible and store in a secure building prior to disposal.
- If garbage is picked up at the curb, put the garbage out just before the scheduled pickup or place in roadside bear-resistant container.
- Clean garbage cans frequently with ammonia
- Do not burn garbage; it is illegal and attracts bears
Follow these guidelines from the DEC, and you will hopefully avoid the nuisance / danger of black bear encounters!
Have you ever had a run-in with a black bear? Tell us!
