In many parts of North America, black bear sightings are increasing. The black bear (
Ursus americanus) is the most widely distributed of the three species of bears found on the continent. In some areas, shortages of food or water caused by adverse environmental conditions may bring bears into closer contact with humans. Part of the reason for this is that our suburban areas are increasingly expanding into wildlife habitat—we infringe on wild animals' homes and force the issue of encounters. And in many regions, such as New England, a large percentage of land previously cleared and worked for agriculture has reverted back to forest—much of it mature enough to support bears.
A Fed Bear Is a Dead Bear
Because black bears are large and powerful animals, encounters with them must be taken seriously. However, the frequency with which encounters occur is still remarkably low. For all their size and alleged ferocity, bears tend to be passive creatures. Human-bear encounters usually occur away from residential areas, usually in parks or other open spaces. Around homes, bears may pass through to sample the fare in gardens, compost bins, beehives, birdfeeders, or outdoor barbecues. Normally shy, black bears prefer to avoid people and developed areas.
Nonetheless, should you encounter one, never approach a bear to try to drive him off. Instead, try shouting, banging objects together, making as much noise as possible and looking as big as possible (by spreading your arms, or better, coat outward) to convince the bear to retreat. Throwing things at the bear is also an excellent way to get him to move on. Where conflicts occur, non-lethal management strategies—rather than killing or even trapping and relocating bears—are proving to be the best and most humane solutions.
Although attacks on humans are rare, these powerful animals should never be underestimated. As is the case with any wild mammal, close-up encounters with bears should be avoided and discouraged. As the saying goes, "a fed bear is a dead bear." Bears who become accustomed to finding food around human dwellings are inevitably labeled "nuisances" and often pay for it with their lives.
Bears on the Move
Conflicts, when they occur, often involve subadult male bears. On their own for the first time as they disperse from the area where they were born—in search of a suitable home for themselves—these young bears sometimes wind up in suburbia without a good idea of how to escape. Frequently this leads to a perceived crisis. Human confusion and uncertainty, coupled with inexperience and a misperception of the animal's real threat, can often lead to fatal consequences for the bear.
But with a little foresight and planning, that doesn't have to happen. Properly equipped and trained law enforcement officers or wildlife professionals can be called upon to convince bears that humans don't make good neighbors. Pioneered by Steve Searles of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., non-lethal black bear hazing techniques have proven highly successful in many areas of the country, including Yosemite National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These professional aversive conditioning strategies may include the use of rubber bullets, pyrotechnics, repellents, body postures and vocalizations, and specially trained Karelian bear dogs to re-instill the natural wariness of humans that some bears have lost.
Tips for Living with Bears
If you live in bear country—and that can mean anything from the rustic California mountains to the human-dominated landscape of suburban New Jersey—here are ten simple tips for making your property less bruin-friendly (many of these common-sense solutions are also applicable to conflicts with other urban mammals, such as raccoons and coyotes):
- Rinse food cans and wrappers before disposal. Keep garbage cans clean and deodorize them periodically.
- Don't leave trash, groceries, or animal feed in your car.
- Place trash cans at the curb on collection day rather than the night before. If trash must be kept outside, invest in a bear-proof garbage container.
- Harvest fruit off trees as soon as it is ripe, and promptly collect fruit that falls.
- Only provide bird feeders outside during the coldest months of the year—generally November through March—and always hang feeders so they are inaccessible to bears.
- Place your garden in the open, away from cover.
- Don't keep an open compost pile in bear country, especially one in which household leftovers are dumped. Burying compost is also not advisable, as bears will easily dig it up if motivated by enticing odors.
- Keep barbecue grills that are on decks or close to the house clean. If possible, move the grill well away from the house when not in use.
- Don't feed pets outdoors.
- Securely block access to potential hibernation sites such as crawl spaces under decks and buildings.
- Don't leave any scented products outside, even non-food items such as suntan lotion, insect repellent, soap, and candles.
