Bear Beware

Think like a bear, and remove anything that could smell good (to a bear) or look like food. Remember bears can smell food from miles away. Bears also have great memories, and once they’ve found food around a home, they will check out other homes in hopes of finding more. Here’s how to make sure they don’t find anything at your place.

Store garbage inside a sturdy building, bear-resistant container or enclosure.

• Never leave trash outside overnight.
• Don’t feed birds until bears hibernate.
• Cage or electric fence your chickens and livestock.
• Pick fruit before it ripens.
• Avoid planting fruits, berries, and edible gardens near your home.
• Don’t store food, pet food, beverages, bird seed, coolers, etc. on your porch or deck.
• Avoid feeding pets outside; the smells remain after the food is gone.
• Close and lock garage doors.
• Clean out your car. Don’t leave behind anything with an odor.

What do Bears Love to Eat?

Bears aren’t out to cause problems. Black bears are very smart and super-resourceful, and will do their best to take advantage of all the easy-to-get-at calories we make available:

• Accessible garbage and trash
• Bird seed, suet, hummingbird feeders
• Fruit trees, gardens, natural food sources
• Chickens and small livestock
• Pet food, horse and livestock feed
• Barbecue grills, coolers, outdoor refrigerators
•  Scented personal care products, scented candles, air fresheners

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

Watching a bear can be an awe-inspiring experience. But watching a bear nose around your home, play in your hot tub or amble across your deck could be a death sentence. For the bear.

By doing nothing, you show bears that people are harmless and it’s okay to check out our homes and communities to see what’s on the menu. So please do your part to help keep bears wild. Lock up all you attractants. If a black bear does come around your home, yell, clap your hands and convince if that people places are no fun.

Courtesy of: Nevada Department of Wildlife
Call (775) 688-2327
www.ndow.org