'Almost Every Bear' In MA Has Learned This Killer Behavior: Officials

WORCESTER, MA — State officials are warning backyard farmers to be more bear aware.

According to the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, backyard chicken coops are bringing black bears into contact with humans more often. Black bears can easily break into wire coops and devour chickens, officials say.

"Almost every bear in Massachusetts has learned this behavior," DFW said in a Sept. 3 bulletin. "As backyard chicken farming has increased in popularity across the Bay State, conflict with black bears has also greatly increased."

Bears may be targeting chicken coops more this time of year. In autumn, black bears enter a period called "hyperphagia," where they eat everything they can in preparation for a period of dormancy over the winter months.

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State wildlife officials believe there are about 4,500 black bears living in Massachusetts, with almost all of them west of I-495. But lone male bears on the prowl for food regularly cross that border into the outer suburbs around Boston.

In late August, North Andover officials responded to a black bear wandering a neighborhood. Prior to that, bears were seen in Wilmington, Woburn, Boxford and Middleton.

State officials urge backyard chicken wranglers to use electrical fencing to secure coops, and set up coops in open areas away from the treeline. Find more tips on the DFW website