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are one of the most prominent members of our Northern forests. In recent years their numbers have been growing and they have become familiar to many of us, though not always in the best circumstances.

How can we find ways to coexist with these giant denizens of the forest that doesn't involve shooting them or trapping and relocating them which are ineffective methods? The DEC no longer has any place to take a trapped bear.

Leaving cubs without a mother to teach them for the customary 1 1/2 years assures a steady supply of bears who do NOT know how to find wild food. Wildlife biologists have learned that animals breed to the extent of food and shelter available to their species.

In our area the bears are able to breed large families of 3 & 4 cubs because of the generous food supply. And what is that generous food supply? Why it's you and me and our way of life! All of our garbage and our birdseed, all the cat or dog food that is left outside, our tasty bar-beques left uncleaned are a fabulous restaurant for bear families.

      

As individuals and as communities we must change these habits to encourage the bears to forage for
wild food.

Eliminate the food source
and the bears will go away.
It is that simple!!!

ALL GARBAGE MUST BE STORED SAFELY UNTIL THE MORNING OF PICKUP, WEEKENDERS & VISITORS, TOO   

  Interested in how other communities live with bears?
  Go to these websites for more information and ideas:

  in British Columbia: www.bearsmart.com
  in Lake Tahoe, NV & CA: www.savebears.org
  in New Jersey: www.savenjbears.com

The bears that are coming to your yard are gentle creatures intent on eating as much as possible in the easiest way. Nothing is easier than your garbage can and birdfeeder! From the bears' point of view this food is a sign of our friendliness.

The food we offer them is high in protein, fat & sugar. It is the best high caloric source of food for the bear and it is as addictive for them as it is for us! Offering this food encourages bear behaviors such as walking into our kitchens! The black bears that live in the Northeast are gentle, timid creatures, but they do have their rules of etiquette, which we need to learn.

      Bear manners include

• Keep a respectable distance

• Never tease a bear

• Use a telephoto lens for your camera

• Do not offer the bear food

• Stay away from a treed bear so that s/he can safely come down. These bears are very frightened.

• Treat the bear the way you would wish to be treated.

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Bears get irritated by inappropriate behaviors and may cuff or nip the offender, just as they would their cubs. The resultant injuries are not usually severe, but are to be avoided. They may also "bluff charge" and retreat. Full-blown attacks by bears are very rare. Campground killings, which are so publicized are almost exclusively grizzly bear attacks.

If you feel frightened by a bear it is appropriate to yell, wave your arms, bang pots and pans and or make short rushes and retreating. If you must you can carry a can of pepper spray of the type sold to mailmen for dogs. This is effective in chasing away a bear.

Some Pointers:

1) Have a secure garbage system: lock your
dumpster, use bear resistant cans or don't put it out until the morning of pickup.

2) Summer Bird feeders must be replaced with shrubs and flowers that provide food & shelter for the birds. Lists are available from garden centers and Cornell Cooperative Extension. This will also help to eliminate the conjunctivitis that is blinding so many of our songbirds.

3) Clean up your grill after every use.

4) If bears are coming close to the house then store food in the refrigerator or plastic bags.

5) Don't leave cat and dog food outside or in screened-in porches. Remove food from chicken coops during warm months.

6) Cover all compost , esp. melons,with manure or soil

7) Each of us must be responsible for ourselves and to our communities and to the bears for our part. This is an opportunity to live in peace and balance with nature. Help the elderly & the weekenders neighbors.

8)Use food more efficiently so that less is thrown away.

More information:

Check out the website of Lynn
Rogers, Phd, (aka The Bear Man)
www.bearstudy.org:

For bear resistant garbage cans:
www.savenjbears.com
This New Jersey Bear group puts together some great garbage cans which they sell for $50, their cost.

Bearable Trash Solutions:
www.bearproofing.com, 973-694-7467

Bear Necessities Waste:
www.bearbins.com403-678-6304

More companies can be found
on the web.

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As we learn to understand the bears and see that we all have a place in the circle of life, we can honor the bears and ourselves by learning to coexist with them and with all wildlife. We create the world that we live in.

                Ho mitakuye oyasin!
                                         We are all related!