After hibernating through a long winter, groggy black bears across New York State are beginning to venture out of their dens, stretch their legs, and look for their first meals of spring. For people living in or visiting bear country, March is time to become bear wise again!

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ( DEC ), adult male bears are usually the first to emerge and may have lost up to 30 percent of their body weight, while females with nursing cubs emerge later and may have lost up to 40 percent of their body weight. Bears are especially hungry in the spring due to depleted fat reserves and will search extensively for easily obtainable, calorie dense foods.

While bears have access to plenty of natural foods in the spring, they will readily use human food sources such as bird feeders, unsecured garbage, chicken coops, apiaries, or messy grills and pet food left outdoors. Continued access to human food sources can make bears bolder, which can lead to an escalation in human-bear conflicts around homes and residential areas. To avoid bear conflicts on your property, take a few steps to prepare in early spring:

• If you choose to feed birds in areas with bears, empty/remove your feeders and clean up spilled seed before early March. Let nature feed the birds from spring through fall.

• Make sure garbage cans are secured and stored in a sturdy building.

• Clean or remove all residual grease and food from grills and store all pet food inside.

• Consider installing an electric fence around chicken coops or apiaries to protect your flock and hives.

• If you are taking a trip to bear country, take a few minutes while planning your visit to review the basics of coexisting with bears.

• Remember that DEC regulations prohibit the intentional feeding of black bears.

DEC officials say that by taking some time to remove and/or secure food sources that might attract bears, you help keep bears away from people, homes and neighborhoods. This helps keep bears healthy, wild, and safe. Do your part and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

For more information on how to live responsibly with black bears, please visit DEC's Be BearWise webpage and BearWise.org.

Our bird feeders are down now

3 hours ago, Ann said:

Our bird feeders are down now

Mine are up they’re just empty. Any sunflower seed I had left was mixed in to the goats’ grain.