Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/avoiding-spring-bear-conflicts/

Spring is a time for new beginnings, and it’s no different for bears. This time of year, bruins emerge from their dens after winter hibernation, often with new cubs in tow. As they look around for food after their months-long diet, it’s best that they keep away from humans and the foods we can inadvertently provide. To ensure you avoid crossing paths with bears and to keep unnecessary conflict at bay, there are some things you can do.

Around Your Home

If you live in a wildland urban interface or just a city that can often see some bruin visitors, there’s a good chance bears could stop by your yard. To discourage that and especially to keep them from coming back, wildlife experts have a few pointers.

Feed Pets Inside

Plenty of food sources can attract bears, including your pet’s food. Even if your cat or dog spends time both out and indoors, it’s best to feed them inside if you live in bear country. Something as simple as an empty dish could spark bears’ interest. Store pet food inside, as well.

Be Mindful of Bird Feeders

Bird feeders are a very common attractant for bears. Once bears start emerging from hibernation and until they go back into their dens in the late fall, it’s best to completely remove bird feeders. If you decide to continue to use one, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommends that you hang it 10 feet up and 4 feet out from the nearest trees.

Keep Your Grill Clean and Bring It Inside

Just about everyone likes a good barbecue, and bears are no different. Grills can attract bears, as well. Be sure that you thoroughly clean your grill after every use. It’s also recommended that you store it indoors when not in use to be on the safe side.

Protect Your Garden and Fruit Trees

Many of us grow food in our yards, and depending on what it is, it could also lead to unintentional bear luring. Fruit trees and berry patches can be especially problematic. It’s important to stay on top of harvesting such items. It’s also a good idea to keep these spots further away from forests or shrubs that bears could use for cover. You could consider installing electric fencing as an extra preventative measure, as well.

Avoid Outdoor Freezers and Refrigerators

Some of us have an extra freezer or refrigerator outside of our kitchens. If you do, it’s best to avoid operating it on the porch or in another outdoor area if bears are around. They can smell the food inside.

Use Bear-Proof Garbage Cans and Store Them Inside

Anyone in bear country knows garbage is a huge attractant. If you’re able to get your hands on one, using a bear proof garbage can or dumpster is the way to go. Whichever type you use, it’s also good practice to keep the bins inside except on the morning of pickup. If you don’t have a garage or indoor spot to store a bin, you can also build a little enclosure around it.

In the Great Outdoors

As the weather warms up, the trails and our favorite campsites call our names a bit more than usual. It’s best not to pop up and surprise a bear on a hike or to unintentionally attract them to a tent. There are steps you can take to avoid these encounters, as well.

Hike in Groups and Be Noisy

If you’re venturing out into bear country to hike, the safest bet is to go in a group. The National Park Service says at least three people is best, as a group this size makes bears more apt to hear you approach and get out of the way. It also minimizes the chance of an attack.

One of the reasons the chances of an encounter are lower is because of how much noise you’ll be making. Be sure to ramp up the noise factor a bit on the trails, especially if you’re headed into a blind corner or near any loud natural features. Yelling out every so often or clapping your hands alerts any nearby bears to your presence, as well.

Keep an Eye Out for Bears and Signs of Them on the Trails

There are certain signs that a bear may be nearby, from scat to fresh tracks to animal carcasses. If you notice any of these, you may choose to head back the way you came. If you do see a bear up the way, especially a mother bear with cubs, slowly back away without allowing the bear out of your sight.

Avoid Hiking at Times When Bears Are More Active

Bears are most active at dawn, dusk, and at night. During these times, they’re often foraging or hunting. As such, those are good times to avoid the trails. In addition to the activity at these times, your visibility may be limited, causing you to miss the signs of a nearby bear.

In Camp, Cook Wisely

If you’re enjoying a few days in the outdoors, you’ll need to cook up some food while you’re there. This carries with it a risk of attracting bears, too, so you’ll need to be mindful of how you prepare your meals. Cook at least 100 yards from where you’ll be sleeping and in an area where you’d be able to see a bear approach. Additionally, you should clean cooking areas thoroughly when you’re done, and don’t sleep in the clothes you were wearing when you cooked.

Follow Proper Food Storage Techniques

Where to store your food is one of the most important things to keep in mind when camping. Never store food in your tent. Instead, keep it in a vehicle with the windows closed, a bear-proof container, or suspended in a tree 100 yards from where you’ll be sleeping.

Properly Store Other Smelly Items

Other smelly items, like deodorant, lotion, toothpaste, and trash should be stored securely with your food, as well.

Keeping Bears Safe

If you follow these tips, you’re not only keeping yourself and your loved ones safe. You’re doing bears a great service by helping them avoid poor outcomes of human conflict.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife bear biologist Forrest Hammond says, “It is extremely difficult to relocate a bear caught up in human-bear conflicts. Sadly, these bears sometimes need to be put down to protect human health. Our large and healthy bear population is butting up against an increasing number of people who have built houses in the woods, fragmenting bears’ habitat and attracting them with backyard food sources. The bears are not going to change their behavior so it’s up to us to make the change.”

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog