Video Of Bear Snacking At Westchester Bird Feeder Prompts Concerns

NORTH SALEM, NY — A Westchester County homeowner's captured footage of a black bear enjoying a snack from a backyard bird feeder is a treat to watch, but officials are also sounding a note of caution.

The homeowner who took the footage forwarded the engaging video to North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas, who forwarded some advice about safely living near our wild neighbors.

"Bears can smell your bird food a mile or more away and will walk directly from one bird feeder to the next," Lucas reminded residents in a social media post. "The bears call the bird feeders "BEAR FEEDERS" and are quite pleased when they find a full one. Usually it is left in bad condition."

Lucas also cited guidance from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

"Feeding bears intentionally is illegal," the NYS DEC said. "Unintentional feeding through bird feeders and unsecured garbage also has consequences for communities and may ultimately be deadly for the bear if the bear becomes a greater threat to people and property after exposure to these sources of food. It is important to properly manage attractants to avoid human-bear conflicts."

Lucas said that the temptation to enjoy a visit from a bear is understandable, but not respecting Mother Nature could put the safety of both bears and people at risk.

"While they are entertaining to look at, a bear is a wild animal and not your friend," Lucas said. "If they have cubs, stay away from them... stay inside. In fact, even if they don't have cubs, stay inside."

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), black bears are "transient occupants of Westchester County," and their movement tends to increase this time of year as breeding season begins and young bears look to find their own spaces.

While black bears are usually not dangerous to humans, they may become so if they become conditioned to human presence, or feel threatened.

If you see a bear, do not approach it. If possible, remain indoors, or in a safe location, until it leaves the vicinity. Children and pets should be closely monitored.

If a bear is damaging property or does not leave the area, but the situation is not an emergency, call the DEC regional wildlife office during business hours at 845-256-3098.

If a bear presents an immediate danger to public safety, call 911.

"A bear is nothing more than a large raccoon," Tom Koepf of the Department of Environmental Conservation told WABC-TV in 2015. "If there's food out they're going to eat it, they're just scavengers."

The best way to keep bears from entering a yard is to remove any sort of food, public safety officials say. Even bird feeders should be removed by April 1, according to NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recommendations. Garbage cans should be emptied frequently and kept clean. Compost piles should be moved as far away from houses as possible. Grills with leftover grease can also attract bears, officials warned.

The NYS DEC advises that bears will only be encouraged to leave an area unless the bear creates a public disturbance, acts aggressively towards people or pets, attempts to enter homes or is injured and cannot move freely to escape.

Find more information and resources, here.

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