The Vermont Fish and Wildlife (F&W) Department says warm spring weather and melting snows will cause bears to come out of their winter dens in search of food. The department recommends taking down and storing bird feeders until December to avoid attracting bears.
“Although we typically recommend taking down bird feeders by April 1, we are asking Vermonters to take them down early this year,” Jaclyn Comeau, the department's bear biologist said in a news release. The department is already receiving bear reports as of March 7.
To help better understand peoples' interactions with bears and inform measures for coexistence with this species, F&W asks Vermonters to submit reports of bears engaging in potentially dangerous behavior like targeting bird feeders or garbage bins, feeding on crops or livestock, or investigating campgrounds or residential areas. Those who experience a conflict with bears are encouraged to submit a report through the Living with Black Bears webpage at bit.ly/656-bears.
“Preventing bears from having access to human-related foods, such as bird seed, is key to successful coexistence,” Comeau added.
Other attractants are garbage, open dumpsters, backyard chickens, pet food, barbecue grills, campsites with accessible food, and food waste.
“Purposely feeding a bear is not just bad for the bear” said Comeau. “It is also dangerous for you, it causes problems for your neighbors, and it is illegal.”
The department offers other tips to coexist with bears, such as storing garbage in bear-proof containers or structures, using electric fences to keep chickens and honeybee hives safe, feeding your pets indoors, and never feeding bears, deliberately or accidentally.
For those who wish to connect with and appreciate songbirds after taking down their bird feeders this spring, the department will be partnering with Audubon Vermont to highlight alternatives like the Native Plants for Birds program. More information can be found at audubon.org/plantsforbirds.
“Birds and native plants co-evolved over millions of years together,” said Gwendolyn Causer, Audubon Vermont's communication coordinator and environmental educator. “Native plants provide essential food resources for birds year-round and also host protein-rich native butterfly and moth caterpillars, the number one food for songbird nestlings. And best of all, they do not attract bears.”