|
Controlling Bears
Once found only in the wild or at remote
camping sites, bears are increasingly moving
into suburban neighborhoods, where they can
take up residence under decks or porches,
move into garages or storage sheds, or make
nests in the stumps of old trees. Increasingly
deprived of their natural habitats (as more
housing moves out into the countryside),
bears can readily adapt to suburban areas
where they live off the food provided by
garbage and birdseed.
Bears can injure people and pets and can
cause serious damage to property. Once a
bear begins to associate the presence of
humans with food, it may lose its natural
aversion to encounters with humans and become
a dangerous pest, especially if the human
is perceived as a threat to the bear, its
cubs, or the source of the bear’s food. Bears
that begin rummaging in trashcans may eventually
try to break into the house.
If you are concerned about the
danger of
bears in your neighborhood, you
should consider
the following:
- The best way to prevent bears from taking
up residence is to remove the food they are
seeking. It may be necessary to take down
bird feeders and to store garbage in secure containers that are not left outside until just before
the garbage is taken away.
- Any doors and windows to garages, basements,
or storage sheds should be securely fastened and other openings
should be sealed. Areas under porches and
decks need to be closed off.
- If you spot a bear on your property or suspect
that it is using any of your buildings as
a home, you should avoid any direct contact
with it. Many experts recommend that if you
encounter a bear, the best thing to do is
to slowly back away in the opposite direction.
Only a licensed professional
should attempt
to
remove a bear from your area. The bear will
need to be sedated so that it can be relocated.
Frequently a radio collar will be fitted
around the bear’s neck so that it can be
tracked in the future. Be aware that in many
communities it is illegal to either poison
or shoot an animal with any kind of firearm. |
|
|
