State Warns: Beware the Bears

It was April 3 last year when the first bear sighting of the season was reported in Merrimack. Throughout the season, at least 89 bear sightings were reported to Merrimack Police and Patch.

And it's that time of year again. Authorities with New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department are warning residents that bear season is just around the corner and it's time to stow away the bird feeders until winter.

Though the winter wasn't as harsh as it could be, it was far snowier than 2012. That said, last Tuesday's snow storm is all but a distant memory as warm days and sunshine have melted away much of the snow dumped on March 19.

Bears are bound to be spotted again soon, Fish and Game says, and as such, they recommend taking down bird-feeders from April 1 to Dec. 1.

The video above says it all.

In Merrimack, bears are so common a site around town that Patch started mapping bear sightings in 2012. See last year's map here. We'll have a new map for 2013. Anyone who spots a bear is welcome to email carolyn.dube@patch.com with the location, date and approximate time you saw the bear and we'll add it to the map. If you can safely take a photo or video, send them to the same email address or text them to 603-290-4045.

Last year was severe in terms of conflicts between bears and the public and resulted in a record total of more than 1,100 statewide complaints, according to Fish and Game Bear Biologist Andrew Timmins. This was predominately due to the fact that most natural bear foods were completely absent during spring and summer. Drought conditions in 2012, coupled with blossom-killing frost in May, led to poor fruit crops and fall production of acorns and beechnuts was not much better, according to a press release from Fish and Game.

Despite an approximately 20-year campaign to educate the public regarding bears and their affinity for bird feeders and human food left unsecured near homes, nearly 10 percent of the bear complaints last year involved bears at bird feeders and approximately 40 percent of the complaints were the direct result of bears raiding unsecured garbage at homes and businesses.

"About half of the annual complaints last year could have easily been avoided by removing birdfeeders for the spring and summer season and securing garbage," Timmins said. "Remove these two common attractants and do your part to minimize conflicts. The N.H. Fish and Game Department and your neighbors thank you for your efforts."

Given that 2012 was a poor food year for bears, natural foods will be scarce this spring until green-up occurs. Bears will be readily attracted to bird feeders that are still up.

Homeowners should take action to reduce the chances of a bear visiting their home.

Avoid encounters with bears by taking a few simple precautions:

• Stop all bird feeding by April 1.
• Clean up any spilled birdseed and dispose of it in the trash.
• Secure all garbage in airtight containers inside a garage or adequate storage area, and put garbage out on the morning of pickup, not the night before. If using a Dumpster-style trash receptacle, inform the company that you need a one with metal locking tops and doors that are inaccessible to bears and other wildlife.
• Avoid putting meat or other food scraps in your compost pile.
• Don't leave pet food dishes outside overnight.
• Clean and store outdoor grills after each use.
• Finally, never feed bears!

These steps will help to ensure that your backyard does not become attractive to bears and other wildlife, which is important because it prevents property damage by bears and because it keeps bears from becoming nuisance animals.

For more information on preventing conflicts with black bears, visit http://www.wildnh.com/Wildlife/Somethings_Bruin.htm.

If you have questions about bear-related problems, you can get advice by calling a toll-free number coordinated jointly by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department: 1-888-749-2327 (1-888-SHY-BEAR).