Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - Why Early Summer Brings More Bear Sightings

DEC Wilidlife recently posed the question; “If you think bears have been in the news more than usual lately, you’re right. Early summer usually brings a bumper crop of news stories about bears appearing in places they’re not typically seen, from backyards and suburban streets to residential communities. So, where are the bears going?” 

They answered their own rhetorical question stating bears who show up in places causing potential conflict with humans this time of year fall into three categories:

1. Juvenile male bears that denned up with their moms last winter and got booted out this spring. 

2. Adult male bears are roaming far and wide in search of a mate. 

3. New moms who have lots of mouths to feed. 

 Regarding the first category, juvenile male black bears, who are about 18 months old, are just trying to figure out how and where to live on their own. These juveniles who lived their entire lives close to their mothers are kicked out by the sow at this time, forcing them to establish their own territory to find food, shelter and eventually a mate. “Juvenile female bears, however, are often allowed to move in next door to their moms, so most wandering bears are males.”  The young male bears are always hungry and typically lack the survival skills of an adult bear. They “…will check out anything that seems as if it might be a source of food.” This includes full as well as empty garbage cans, bird feeders, and coolers. 

 It's here, the human response to bears in their yard is important. The simple rule for home owners with problem bears is, remove the food, and you’ve removed the bear. If they don’t get a food reward and instead get some type of negative reinforcement, that will solve the problem in almost all instances. Negative reinforcement includes making loud noise with pots pans or airhorns, the family dog barking, and in persistent problem cases, giving the bear a round of rubber buckshot in the rump when permitted. 

 Ways to discourage bears from getting into garbage include keeping pails inaccessible to bears and out of sight, then put out only just prior to pick-up. If possible, keep pails in a shed surrounded by rags soaked in ammonia. Separately clean the interior of the pails with bleach and rinsed with water to control food liquid and rotten odors. 

*Never mix ammonia with bleach as that creates a poisonous compound highly toxic to humans and animals. 

 Other home attractants include grease traps and food remnants left in barbeques, and unfettered access to pet foods. One case in Palenville had an unusual natural attractant contributing to a nuisance bear problem. It consisted of a large colony of grubs and ants colonizing a large rock retaining wall which several bears summarily dismantled. That problem was solved using pesticides to kill the grub and ant colonies. That homeowner had a fairly serious bear problem and was forced to address it by obtaining a permit to shoot bears with rubber buck shot with a proscription to remove all possible natural and human-sourced attractants. The homeowner’s actions upon the advice of DEC Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Officers seems to be working well so far. 

So, DEC summarizes the “carrot and stick” method of keeping bears away from your home in this way; “If they quickly discover that human places should be avoided, they will be forced to learn to support themselves as wild bears. If they find the backyard pickings are easy, they start down a road that is often a dead end for them.”

 Getting back to discussing the second category, where adult male bears roam long distances in search of a mate, black bears may mate several times in early summer. In their travels, it’s not unusual to see or have an encounter with a big boar. While they actively and opportunistically feed during this time, their minds are on another activity. Female bears typically remain in their home range which forces the males to cover long distances in search of them. 

 The last category, new moms who have lots of mouths to feed, points to the fact that sows with cubs, who rely upon her for their survival, must continuously seek food sources. That can include natural forage as well as human sources. 

“Natural spring and early summer food sources such as grasses and developing plants are just not as calorie-dense and nutritious as the nuts and fruits that ripen later in the year. So, mother bears often need to travel further from their dens looking for food.” 

 Cubs are intelligent, adaptable, and learn quickly. If their mom shows them great tasting food comes from pails of garbage, bird feeders, and pet food found on the other side of swinging pet doors, ”… it creates a whole new generation of problems for people and bears.” 

 If on the other hand, they fail to get access to human sourced food and the cubs are taught how to make due with what nature provides, human-bear conflicts can be avoided at the outset. 

*Be extra-vigilant during this extra-critical time. 

Follow the At-Home BearWise Basics at https://bearwise.org/six-bearwise-basics/ and use the BearWise At-Home Checklist at https://bearwise.org/ , make sure there’s nothing around your property or home that will attract bears.

At the risk of being cliché, let’s sum it all up with some common-sense advice: 

Happy Independence Day and happy hunting, fishing, and trapping until next time!

News and Notes 

Norton Hill Trap Shooting Program is Underway/ 3D Archery Starting Soon

The Norton Hill Wildlife Club’s Sunday Trap Program is underway. Remaining dates are: July 20th, August 10th, and September 7th. Trap begins at 10:00 am and the cost is $5.00 per round. Bring your own ammo and ear and eye protection which is required. Breakfast sandwiches will be available starting at 9:00 am for $5.00. For further information call Chad at 518-291-3784. 

The Norton Hill 3D Archery Program began on June 7th, with subsequent dates on July 12th and 13th, August 23rd and 24th, and September 13th. A chicken BBQ will be available from 7:00 am until Noon. Cost for adults is $15.00, youth 12-17 at $7.00 and kids under 12 are free. For more information call Eric at 518-646-6338. 

*The gun range will be closed on the dates listed above.