Action Plan For A BearWise Year

In February all bears continue to hibernate. Newborn cubs continue to grow as mother bears care for them. We need to begin preparing for the end of hibernation. 

Remember all that stuff you meant to take care of before spring? Bear alarm clocks will be going off soon, so now’s the time to put those plans into action. Here is a quick reminder list of things that could attract bears. Your goal: clean up, lock up and store securely.

Garbage

Need a better can or a better plan? Check out bear-resistant containers, DIY options and other ways to make sure bears can’t get their paws on your garbage.

SECURE FOOD, GARBAGE AND RECYCLING

It’s all food to a black bear!

A bear’s strongest sense is smell. They can pick up a scent from over a mile away! That is more than seven times better than a bloodhound. Food and food odors attract bears, so don’t reward them with easily available food, liquids or garbage.

Safety For You, Your Neighbors & The Bears

If you and your neighbors keep your food and garbage secure from bears, you will go a long way toward keeping bears in the wild and out of your neighborhood. We urge you to follow this list of simple precautions.

1) Human foods, from picnic lunches to spilled snacks on the ground, can easily attract bears. Never leave human foods outside unattended. Pick up all leftovers and bring them inside. For bear-resistant food storage options, see Keep Bears Out.

2) Garbage and recycling should be stored where bears can’t smell or access to it: either in a bear-resistant container or inside a bear-resistant building. For bear-resistant garbage and recycling options, see Keep Bears Out.

Haul garbage and recycling to an approved disposal site as often as possible, but at least once a week to avoid buildup of odors.

Garbage and recycling pick-up? If you have garbage pick-up once or twice a week, put your cans on the curb the morning of pick-up, never the night before.

3) Composting: The safest way to compost in bear country is to create your compost pile inside an electric fence or use one of the many available bins, tumblers or outdoor containers meant to keep odors in and bears out.

Remember anything that attracts dogs or raccoons, attracts bears. Read more from BearWise, the author of this information at https://bearwise.org/six-bearwise-basics/food-garbage/