Please Don't Feed the Bears

Bird feederPhoto byVidar Nordli-MathisenonUnsplash

Game wardens are warning bird lovers to bring in their bird feeders in Vermont. As temperatures warm, bears are coming out of hibernation. Once they leave their dens, they stay out even if it gets cold again or snow falls. Bears, like everyone in the morning, are hungry.

The common bird feed black oil sunflower seed draws bears by its scent. Once on you property, they can seek other food sources, such as trash cans, chicken feeders (and chickens) or even, in one case clawing through a wall to get to someones kitchen.

Black BearPhoto byPete NuijonUnsplash

Once they begin associating houses with food, they may go from one to another, sometimes to the extent they become a dangerous nuisance and have to be put down. Bears can invade campgrounds too, so be careful to leave BBQ grills clean, and keep food and garbage where it will not attract them.

CampgroundPhoto byWikimedia

Nuisance bears can be reported to the Vermont Fish and Game Department here.