DEEP says be bear aware

#Middlebury #Bears #DEEP

A bear carries off a free lunch. Store garbage out of reach of bears. (DEEP photo)

Each fall, black bears increase their food intake to add fat reserves needed to help them survive winter. The quest for more food makes them very active, so the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is sharing best practices to reduce the likelihood of an encounter with a bear.

As black bears prepare for hibernation, they forage for calorie-packed nuts and seeds for up to 20 hours a day in a race against the clock. This annual power-eating marathon is called hyperphagia. During hyperphagia, bears need to eat 10 times the calories they normally consume – that’s at least 20,000 calories a day.

A pound of acorns has about 2,100 calories; a pound of blueberries, just 256 calories. It takes many hours of foraging each day for bears to find 20,000 calories’ worth of nuts and berries. But just one bird feeder full of black oil sunflower seed or one garbage container overflowing with leftovers can reward a bear with a day’s worth of calories for less than an hour’s work. It’s no wonder human-provided foods can be even more tempting as winter closes in.

Black bears that consume human-associated food regularly become habituated (comfortable around people) and food-conditioned (associate humans with food). As the bear population continues to grow and expand its range in Connecticut, and bears become increasingly food conditioned, conflicts with humans will continue to increase, and food-conditioned bears pose a greater risk to public safety and often cause more property damage to houses, cars, pets, and livestock.

“Black bears should never be fed – either intentionally or unintentionally,” said Jenny Dickson, DEEP Wildlife Division Director. “Bears that are attracted to homes by easily-accessible foods lose their fear of humans … Bears that are rewarded by easy meals spend more time in neighborhoods and near people, increasing risks to public safety, the likelihood of property damage, and the possibility that the bears may be hit and killed by vehicles. It is up to all of us to help prevent bears from learning bad behavior.”

Find DEEP’s “Living with Black Bears” tips at portal.ct.gov/DEEP-Living-with-Black-Bears or watch its video at tinyurl.com/2p8de5bx.

If you encounter a bear while in your yard or hiking, make your presence known by yelling or making other loud noises. Never attempt to get closer to a bear. If a bear does not retreat, slowly leave the area. If in your yard, go into your house, garage, or other structure.

If the bear persistently approaches, go on the offensive – shout, wave your arms, and throw sticks or rocks. If your dog is hiking with you, it is imperative that you keep the dog on a SHORT leash and DO NOT let it roam free – this is for the safety of your dog, yourself, and the bear.

Take the following steps to reduce encounters and potential conflicts with bears:

• NEVER feed bears.
• If you put out bird feeders, do so from December through late-March when bears are in their dens. However, some bears can remain active for portions of or the entire winter season if food is available. Clean up spilled seed when feeding over winter and remove bird feeders at the first sign of bear activity. If you live in an area with bears, it is best to avoid bird feeders altogether.
• Store garbage in secure, airtight containers inside a garage or storage area. Adding ammonia to cans and bags will reduce odors that attract bears. Periodically clean garbage cans with ammonia to reduce residual odor. Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.
• Do not store leftover bird seed, suet cakes, or recyclables in a porch or screened sun room as bears can smell these items and will rip screens to get at them.
• Keep barbecue grills clean. Store grills inside a garage or shed.
• Supervise dogs at all times when outside and keep them on a short leash when walking and hiking. A roaming dog might be perceived as a threat to a bear or its cubs.
• Do not leave pet food outdoors or feed pets outside.
• Use electric fencing to protect beehives, agricultural crops, berry bushes, chickens, and other livestock.
• Avoid placing meat scraps or sweet foods, such as fruit and fruit peels, in compost piles.

A portion of this press release was provided by BearWise®, a program created by bear biologists, and supported by State Wildlife Agencies.