3 Simple Steps: Contain, Implement, Educate
Being Bear Smart is not complicated. Through simple measures and basic education the incidence of human/bear interactions can be greatly reduced. Creating a Bear Smart community requires participation on the part of private homeowners, businesses, campgrounds and public policy officials.
Contain Attractants
Proper management of unnatural food sources for bears is imperative. It's also the law. It's easy to keep food away from a bear through the use of bear resistant garbage cans and dumpsters and good old common sense. Comply with NJSA 23:2A-14, the black bear feeding ban law.
Dispose of Garbage Properly
- Enclose garbage in an airtight plastic bag and place in a bear-resistant garbage can.
- Bears are good climbers and can easily access unsecured areas such as garages, sheds, balconies and screened porches. Don't leave garbage, groceries or any other attractants in these areas.
- If you have curbside pick-up, putting the garbage out one or two hours before the truck arrives is helpful, but it’s even better to store garbage in bear-resistant containers with locking lids at all times, away from the house.
- Do not let garbage pile up or develop strong odors that can attract bears. Minimize odors by storing garbage in tightly closed plastic trash bags inside bear resistant trash containers.
- Stash ALL food scraps in the freezer or in an airtight container until you can dispose of them properly. Even “dry” trash (like empty cereal boxes) has an odor, so be careful how you store it.
- Store soiled diapers indoors until trash day.
- Periodically clean your trash can with ammonia and rinse food containers before putting in trash or recycle.
- Use bear resistant containers, available from:
- Bear-resistant cans available locally in New Jersey at:
Highland General Store, Highland Lakes: 973-764-4541
McAfee Hardware, Vernon: 973-827-0594
Glenwild Garden Center, Bloomingdale: 973-838-0174
Pequannock Feed & Pet Supply, West Milford: 1-800-834-6773 - Additionally, the Minnesota DNR shows how to prepare a bear-proof dumpster. Replace plastic lids with metal lids. To keep metal lids closed, a one inch pipe slides through eyelets and is secured with a pin.
Vehicles
- Don’t leave trash, groceries, animal feed, coolers or any attractant in your vehicle or in the back of a pick-up truck. Bears can easily pry open vehicle windows and doors — even trunks — to access these attractants.
Yards and Green Spaces
- Keep lawns mowed and weeded. Grasses, dandelions and clover are natural bear foods.
- Remove plants that bears eat. Pick ripe fruit from trees and pick up fallen fruit.
- Block potential denning sites like crawl spaces under decks and buildings.
Bird Feeders
- If you intend on feeding birds, hang your feeder at least 12' high between sturdy posts or trees and feed only between November and April. If your feeder is hung on a cable between two trees, affix a plastic shower rod cover over the wire so that the bear cannot grab hold; but don't forget to keep the area under the feeder clean. The easiest solution is to install this complete Birds Only Bird Feeder System. Birds have access to plenty of natural foods between May and October, so it is not necessary to feed them during these times.
- Store birdseed securely indoors at all times.
- As an alternative to hummingbird feeders, plant red or pink native flowers which are known to attract hummingbirds.
- Bird baths are a great alternative that will brind birds into your yard without attracting bears.
- Choose quality birdseed without millet. Almost all bird seed found under feeders is millet, which most birds toss out of the feeder because they don't like it. You can also switch to chips of sunflower seeds which will attract birds but leave nothing under the feeder.
Fruit Trees and Berry Bushes
- Plant non-fruit-bearing trees and shrubs when landscaping.
- Remove plants and shrubs that bears like to eat (berry bushes, fruit trees) from areas where you don't want to find bears feeding, including entrance ways, busy paths, or around children's play sets. Replace them with ornamental, non-fruit-bearing varieties.
- If you don’t want to remove the trees/shrubs; you can try using a garden hose with a spray nozzle to spray down the flowers and thus prevent fruit from forming.
- If you decide to let your plants bear fruit, harvest fruits as or even before they ripen, and remove fallen fruit from the ground below the tree.
- Inexpensive electric fencing can be effectively used to deter bears from orchards, gardens and valuable trees.
Gardens
- Vegetable gardens, especially those containing potatoes and root vegetables such as carrots and beets, attract bears. Flower gardens are not as attractive to bears as long as they don't contain dandelions and clover.
- Harvest garden vegetables as they ripen.
- Consider a permanent electric fence to keep animals out of your garden.
- Download this brochure: Wildlife-friendly Landscaping: Resident's Guide. Note: plant species may vary from one area to another, but the basic principles remain the same. Check with a local horticulturist for plants that are native to your area.
Companion Animals
- Feed your animals inside and store their food indoors.
- A well-trained dog can help deter bears from entering a yard, or at least be effective at warning you if a bear is nearby. However, some dogs may create conflict situations and could be injured or killed by bears as they defend themselves. Obey leash laws and never leave animals outside unattended.
- Keep cats and other small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs) indoors when unsupervised, especially at night, when predatory animals can more easily prey on them.
Barbeques
- Burn your barbeque clean and wash immediately after use, removing all grease and food residues.
- Remove and properly dispose of the grease in the drip can or grease tray every time you use your barbeque. Clean it thoroughly before returning it to the barbeque or store it securely indoors.
- Lava rocks trap grease and should be replaced with ceramic bricks that are easier to clean.
- Store your barbeque indoors when not in use (but please remember not to store your propane tank inside, as it is a fire hazard).
- “Smoker” grills require even more precautions to keep the odors down, and their use is not recommended.
- Do not store food of any kind outside, even if it is inside a locked refrigerator or freezer.
- Be watchful at barbeques - the smell from cooking can attract bears from long distances. Don't leave any food unattended outside. As soon as you are finished eating, bring all dishes, containers, utensils and uneaten food inside the house. Promptly and properly discard of all cans, used paper plates, cups, disposable containers and napkins.
Citronella, Hot Tub Covers, Petroleum Products
- Citronella products contain a compound that is very attractive to bears, so it's best not to burn citronella candles or use any citronella-based bug sprays.
- Surprisingly, bears have been known to take bites out of hot tub covers. Insulation made with formaldehyde gives off formic acid as it breaks down. Bears are naturally drawn to the smell of formic acid from ant colonies and will bite into the insulation in refrigerators, hot tub covers, bicycle or snowmobile seats, etc. looking for ants. To prevent this, (1) use alternative products (like aluminum hot tub covers ); or (2) sprinkle your hot tub cover or other attractive object with garden lime or any alkali and then place a tarpaulin cover over it (the formic acid that is released is then counteracted by the lime (CaCO3) to give harmless calcium formate + CO2).
- Bears are also attracted to all petroleum products, like gas, oil and grease. These products should always be stored securely where bears cannot access them (follow proper storage guidelines as these products may be a fire risk).
Compost
- Use a bear-proof composter.
- Keep your compost clean and odor free.
- Never compost meat, fish, oil, grease or dairy products.
- Sprinkle your compost with lime to aid in decomposition and reduce odor. Cover kitchen waste with dry leaves or dried grass clippings. Keep compost aerated and properly turned.
- Locate compost well away from the forest edge, thickets and natural pathways used by bears.
- Or try NatureMill's automatic compost bin which can be used indoors. Makes compost in 2 weeks.
Backyard Animals
- Chickens must be kept in a solid coop so that the birds can be locked in at night. It must be secure against all predators; coyotes, cats, dogs, foxes, skunks, raccoons, owls, hawks, rats (eat eggs and chicks). Many predators can climb extremely well and some can squeeze into very small spaces.
- A run, where the birds can get fresh air and scratch around, can be enclosed with electric netting. It's best to cover it as well to protect against eagles, hawks and owls. Or you can try draping several strands of surveyors ribbon over the run to protect chickens from predatory birds (the ribbon acts as a deterrent when it blows in the wind).
- The coop and run must have electric fencing around them to protect the birds from bears. Remove any large climbable trees/branches adjacent to the chicken coop or run: or place the coop and run away from trees. Ensure there are no gaps under the fence where predators can get underneath. While it may seem counterintuitive, it's a good idea to train bears to avoid your electric fence after it’s installed.
- Apply a smell to the electric fence to attract the bear's nose. This can be done by putting food grease on a sponge and keeping a fresh coat on the wires. Bears, when they encounter a new smell will test it with their tongues. Once they are zapped they will have little interest in what is being protected. Otherwise bears are like sheep and their dense fur can insulate them from being shocked by an electric fence.
- You can probably let your chickens roam free when you are home; but be extra careful if you have active coyotes and bears in the area.
- Store feed securely indoors and in a separate location from the birds. It is often the mishandling of the grain, mash and other feed that initially attracts bears, not the animals themselves.
- The above precautions can apply for any companion animals who live outside - pigs, goats, turkeys, horses and others.
Salt and Mineral Blocks
- Don’t put out salt and mineral blocks.. Your intent might be to draw deer, but bears and cougars may also be attracted to your property.
Implement Aversive Conditioning
Aversive Conditioning is a behavior modification technique used to teach bears that they are unwelcomed in certain areas and to reinstill the bears’ natural fear of humans.
This technique, pioneered by Wildlife Management Officer Steven Searles of Mammoth Lakes, California, is endorsed by the federal government. Police officers here in New Jersey and in many other parts of the U.S., Canada and British Columbia have been trained in aversive conditioning using rubber bullets, buckshot and pyrotechnic devices to condition bears. You can read more about Steve and his program at his website, Bear Whisperer.
Bears who are caught in the act of raiding garbage cans or birdfeeders and bears who are frequenting areas they shouldn’t (i.e., schools, restaurants, etc.) can be taught that interacting with humans will result in harassment. They will quickly learn to associate these “off-limit” locations with “punishment” and will retreat to the woods, forests and swamps that are their natural homes.
Generally practiced by wildlife, law enforcement and animal control professionals, members of the public can also employ basic aversive conditioning techniques.
What you do depends on where you see the bear.
IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS:
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Most bears are just passing through. Let them pass and do nothing.
Don’t feed bears. It only encourages them to stay and it is against the law!
If a bear gets too close to your home or if you simply don't want him in your yard, you can use basic aversive conditioning techniques. Allowing a bear to linger while you hide in the house watching only teaches him that HE is the boss, not you. Make whatever efforts with which you are comfortable to assert your dominance over the bear and to make coming in your yard an uncomfortable experience for him. Being assertive towards the bears through body language will be very helpful in teaching bears to fear YOU.
Start intense and vary your tactics if the bear is persistent. Assume a dominant posture by waving your arms, opening an umbrella, stomping your feet and yelling. Blow air horns or whistles, shake bells, pots and pans, coins in a tin can or otherwise create a loud noisy environment. You can also use supersoaker water guns or garden hoses to scare the bear away.
Teach your children to wave their arms and stomp their feet, and then walk slowly to the house if a bear is present.
IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT:
Encountering a bear in the wild is not that common. Most people are thrilled to see one.
Take a picture or do nothing – remember, you are in his home.
Allow the bear to walk away.
Don’t corner the bear.
Don’t feed the bear!
You can also frighten the bear away by waving your arms, stomping your feet and yelling.
Treasure the moment.
Become Educated
Learn more about your black bear neighbors. Understanding bear behavior can give insight on why they do what they do and how you can interpret their actions. Education allows the public to enjoy these beautiful animals and their place in our state. Modifying your behavior will modify the bear’s behavior. When you know what to do, how to properly act and react, the bear will learn from you.
Since 1992, the Bear Group has been providing free, non-political public educational programs to residents, police and many civic organizations.
Our Bear Smart Community educational program is full of information about black bears and simple ways to avoid encounters. Participants learn that black bears are timid and generally afraid of people. They also learn simple ways to prevent bears from frequenting residential neighborhoods.
Our mission is to educate residents about black bears, reduce unwarranted fears, and increase tolerance of our bear neighbors. Our program fosters a peaceful co-existence and replaces fear with respect and understanding. We also provide free literature.
If your group, organization, or community is interested in having an black bear educational presentation, please contact our Speakers Bureau.
Our program is based on the scientific research of world-renowned black bear expert Dr. Lynn Rogers, PhD, of the North American Bear Center in Ely, Minnesota. Dr. Rogers has been studying black bears for over 40 years.
Rogers maintains two excellent websites. Bear.org provides basic education on bears, and debunks myths and miconceptions. For those who want to learn more and go a step further, he provides research and courses at BearStudy.org.
Animal Protection League of NJ
PO Box 186
Glen Gardner, NJ 08826
732-446-6808
email
Evidence that Non-Lethal Works
Education reduces unwarranted fears and allows the public to enjoy these beautiful animals and their place in our state. Modifying your behavior will modify the bear’s behavior. When you know what to do, how to properly act and react, the bear will learn from you.
read our report