Prevention is the Key
People who live in, or visit, bear habitat have a responsibility to the wildlife whose habitat they are sharing. Feeding bears, whether intentional or not, can amount to a death sentence for the animal. More and more communities and campgrounds are adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward people who feed bears and other wildlife. In some places, people are being cited for failing to properly store food and garbage.

A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear
In the spring, bears emerge from their dens with one thing in mind: eating. They travel for miles in search of food, guided by a keen sense of smell. A full garbage can or a messy campsite might seem like the Motherlode to a hungry bear, and that's when most bear/human conflicts begin.

The black bear, in addition to being a strong swimmer, sprinter, and climber, is very intelligent. One easy meal from a house, car, or campsite is all it takes for some bears to learn that people and food go together. Once a bear makes this association, it's not a pleasant story for people or bears.

One hungry bear is capable of causing thousands of dollars worth of property damage in a single incident. In some states, by law, a homeowner who has taken steps to eliminate bear attractants but still suffers property damage can obtain a permit from the state's Department of Fish and Game to kill the bear causing the problem

Bears that are accustomed to people can become bold and even aggressive. There are dozens of documented cases of people being mauled, and even killed, by black bears. Although rare, when a bear behaves aggressively towards people, the Department of Fish and Game may need to euthanize the animal to protect public safety.

Living in Bear Habitat
Bears are attracted to anything smelly or edible, especially garbage. Bears are also attracted to bee hives, orchards, and gardens. Occasionally, livestock are killed and eaten. Follow these guidelines to help keep your home "bear-proof":

• Deodorize garbage cans with bleach or ammonia.

• Double-bag garbage to help eliminate odors.

• Separate "wet garbage" and keep it in an air and odor tight container. Use a garbage disposal whenever possible. Freeze meat bones or other smelly items until pickup day.

• Be sure to keep barbecue grills clean.

• Pick up fallen tree fruit, and put away pet food and bird feeders at night.

• Close windows at night on accessible ground floors and decks.

• Don't leave food in or near a window sill or on a counter near an open window.

• Securely block access to potential hibernation sites, such as crawl spaces under decks or buildings.

• Install bear-proof garbage and compose containers.

• Request a bear-proof garbage bin for your neighborhood or apartment complex.

What About Relocation?
Over the years, wildlife agencies around the country have tried to solve bear/human conflicts by capturing and moving "problem bears" to other locations. Almost without exception, the relocated bear suffers one of three fates:

• it returns to the place where it was captured and resumes its problem behaviors;

• it remains in its new location, continuing the problem behaviors; or,

• it dies in its new location as a result of conflicts with other bears.

What About Bear Education?
A researcher in Alaska tried an experiment to determine if bears that routinely raided local garbage cans could "unlearn" their behavior. He randomly placed pellets, laced with a chemical, in the garbage cans. When eaten, the pellets would cause the bears to vomit violently. These intelligent animals quickly learned that the garbage was fine, as long as they avoided the pellets.

Shooting bears with rubber bullets or pepper spray may temporarily scare them away, but it hasn't been successful in changing a bear's behavior if the bear has learned that food is available. At best, it is a short-term, temporary solution in areas that already have problem bears. As long as there is food available, the bears return after the bullets and pepper spray are put away. These tactics are legal for use only by law enforcement personnel and employees of some public agencies.

• Bring only the minimum amount of food and toiletries needed. Take time to plan your meals. Reduce surplus food. Select well-sealed and less odorous food items.

• Keep a clean camp at all times, day and night. Clean up and store food and garbage immediately after meals.

• Keep your cooking items clean. Properly dispose of wash water and food waste away from your camping area.

• Use bear-proof garbage cans or store garbage in a secure location with your food and toiletries whenever possible.

• Store food, toiletries, and scented items in bear-proof containers, storage lockers, or in a secure location whenever possible. This may include storing items in an airtight container in your trunk or other location out of sight in your vehicle, although no vehicle is secure from damage by a bear searching for food.

• Never keep food in your tent.

• Keep a close watch on children, and teach them what to do if they encounter a bear.

• While hiking, make noise to avoid a surprise encounter with a bear, and stay in the open as much as possible.

• Leave dogs at home when going into bear country. Bears may chase them.

• Please help by becoming a part of our long-term solution to reduce availability of food, trash, and other attractants to bears. With your commitment, we can work towards breaking the cycle that teaches bears and other animals to depend on human food and trash to survive and help keep the "wild" in Wildlife.

• Bears sometimes bluff their way out of threatening situations by charging and then veering off at the last second. If this happens, do your best not to scream or run. The bear will probably retreat as soon as she has made her point (this is her territory) and scared you senseless.

• Never approach a bear. Give it plenty of room to pass by. Most black bears try to avoid confrontation when given a chance.

• Do not run from a bear. Running away from a black bear may stimulate its instinct to chase. You cannot outrun a bear. Instead:

  • Stand and face the animal.

  • Make eye contact without staring.

  • Talk softly in a monotone and back away slowly.

  • If you have small children with you, pick them up so that they do not run or panic.

  • If there is more than one person, stand together to present a more intimidating figure, but do not surround the bear.

  • Give the bear room so that it can avoid you.

• If you encounter a bear cub, do not pick it up! You run the risk of being attacked by a protective mother bear. If you think the cub is abandoned, contact the Department of Fish and Game. Orphaned cubs can be captured, rehabilitated, and released, but only by organizations with specific authorization. People who pick up cubs without authorization may be cited.

• Report all bear sightings to a park ranger as soon as possible, especially if you are involved in a conflict with a bear, regardless of how minor. In addition, if you are in a national park or monument and observe a bear or bear sign, report it to a park ranger as soon as possible. Someone's safety may depend on it.

• Try to demonstrate to the bear that you may be a danger to it.
• Make yourself appear larger, stand up, raise your arms and open your jacket.
• Yell at the bear, bang pots and pans or whatever objects you may have with you, and create a commotion.

Black bear behavior is quite variable. Research indicates that bear attacks have been avoided or injuries reduced when the victims fought back using any means available. Throwing rocks and striking the bear with branches or camping equipment have been shown to be effective.