March bear tips

#MiddleburyCT #Bears

Keep black bears from getting into your trash by treating it with ammonia or investing in a bear-proof trash can. (DEEP photo by Testerman)

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

March usually brings increased bear activity, and we can determine how well that goes for us and for the bears. Unlike bears, we have the ability to determine what we need to do to adapt to their presence. We can learn to minimize bear-human contact and thus keep both ourselves and the bears safe. Do we have the will to make the changes we need to make to coexist peacefully with bears?

This month we look at what is most likely to attract bears to our yards. That’s food. The saying goes, “A fed bear is a dead bear.” We keep both ourselves and the bears safe when we offer them nothing to eat.

A bear’s idea of food can include garbage, dog and cat food, bird seed, greasy BBQ grills, compost and sometimes a small pet. Here are DEEP tips on what we need to do about inadvertently feeding bears.

• Take down bird feeders from late March through November. See “Feed birds, not bears” here for tips.
• Add a few capfuls of ammonia to trash bags and garbage cans. Keep trash bags in a container with a tight lid (or buy a bear-proof trash container) and store it in a closed garage or shed. Don’t put the container at the curb until the morning of collection.
• Don’t add sweets or meats to your compost.
• Thoroughly clean your grills after use. Even better, store them in a closed shed or garage.
• Don’t leave pet food outside overnight. Store livestock food in airtight containers.
• Keep your dog on a leash when you walk it.