Prevent bear problems by removing all food sources

As hard to believe as it might be, black bears see a bird feeder as a food source. Bird feeders, garbage cans and barbeque grills all are bear attractants that humans can control.

Bears are more noticeable to people right now, as young bears are establishing their own territories. Bears typically mate in late June to early August, and the mother will kick out her yearlings in order to do so. Those yearling bears now are looking for new, unoccupied territory and will be roaming to find a new home.

“Bears are looking for food and new territory,” said Kevin Swanson, Department of Natural Resources wildlife management specialist with the bear and wolf program. “While we might not think of bird feeders and trash cans as food sources, a hungry bear certainly may.”

Bird seed is especially attractive to bears because of its high fat content and easy access. Once bird feeders are discovered, bears will keep coming back until the seed is gone or the feeders have been removed. Bears are capable of remembering reliable food sources from year to year.

“The majority of complaints we receive about nuisance bears involve a food source, and these issues tend to rise in years when natural food availability is low,” Swanson said. “The easiest thing people can do to avoid creating a problem is to take in their bird feeders and store other attractants, like grills, trash cans and pet food, in a garage or storage shed.”

Bears that are rewarded with food each time they visit a yard can become habituated to man-made food sources. This can create an unsafe situation for the bear and become a nuisance for landowners if a bear continuously visits their yard during the day and repeatedly destroys private property in search of food.

Those who have taken appropriate actions to remove food sources for a period of two to three weeks, but are not seeing results, should contact the nearest DNR office and speak with a wildlife biologist or technician for further assistance.

For more information about Michigan black bears please watch “The Bear Essentials” video or visitwww.michigan.gov/bear.