Hungry Bears Lumbering Into Area

The warmer winter, lack of snow and longer day length are encouraging to bears to leave their dens and seek food, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife reports.

Grafton residents know this well. Sightings of bears in town have been numerous in recent years.

In many cases, bears will ignore natural foods such as skunk cabbage and instead head to the nearest birdfeeder for a good meal.

To avoid this problem, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) is asking that property owners be proactive by removing bird feeders and other potential food sources promptly and taking other preventative measures.

"Since much of the state had little or no snow cover, and food was available, some bears never really denned. We anticipate other bears might come out earlier than usual," said Laura Conlee, DFW Wildlife Biologist. "If food sources such as bird seed, unsecured trash or dumpsters are available, conflicts can occur that pose hazards to both bears and people."

Removing bird feeders will not create a problem for birds as feeding stations are a supplement to the natural foods available throughout the winter.

Bears have excellent long-term memories and remember which foods are available at different seasons, as well as where food sources can be found.

Even if a feeder is inaccessible to bears, they will be attracted by the scent of seed and suet. Once they find a feeder, bears will return.

Bears are generally shy and fearful of people, but deliberate or indirect feeding, coupled with a lack of harassment can cause bears to become accustomed to people.

If they lose their fear of people and develop a taste for human foodstuffs, bears can become bolder and may cause damage that ultimately results in harm to property, people, or to the demise of the animal.

If a bear is passing through a neighborhood without stopping, enjoy the sight. However, if the bear stops to feed on trash, bird seed, or other human-generated foods, remove them after the bear has left and advise your neighbors to do the same.

Generally, due to their fear of people, bears tend to leave a yard when people step outside and make loud noises. Keep garbage in airtight containers, securely stored in a cellar, garage, or shed.

Put trash out on the day of trash pickup, not the previous evening. Keep doors to sheds and barns latched or locked to prevent bears from finding grain. Don't feed pets outdoors.

Don't dump sweet or meaty items in compost piles as bears will soon find them. In residential areas where bears are known to be present, the entire neighborhood must take recommended actions or bears will move from yard to yard seeking food.

Conlee noted that taking these actions also reduces problems with other common wildlife species such as coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.