Be wise about bears, DNR reminds Minnesotans

Springtime in Minnesota means migratory birds returning, plants greening up and one of the state’s largest mammals emerges from its winter hibernation.

Black bears are roaming the region and calls about bear problems are on the rise, according to Andy Tri, bear project leader with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Tri joined the KAXE Morning Show on Tuesday, May 9, to remind Minnesotans of practices intended to protect people, pets and property — while keeping bears wild.

The black bear population in most of the state is steady or slowly increasing, Tri said, after bottoming out at about 12,000 animals in 2013. Thirteen years earlier, the DNR altered hunting regulations to intentionally reduce the population from a peak of 25,000.

“We’re in a pretty good spot, and that’s why we need folks to make sure to take these simple steps to coexist with bears,” Tri said.

Tri started by chastising KAXE Producer John Latimer a bit for keeping bird feeders up during the summer months.

“Generally speaking, we don’t want bears to show up in your yard to start with,” Tri said. “ … The best way to avoid any sort of bear contact or bears in your hard would be to keep your feeders down from about Easter until Thanksgiving.”

While Tri noted this is what the DNR recommends, he said he knows feeding the birds is something people enjoy. Altering practices somewhat — or being BearWise, as the state agency’s program calls it — can make a difference in reducing the chances of bear encounters.

“If you choose to feed birds, then you need to make sure you’re cleaning up any sort of seed spills everyday (and are) taking them in at night,” Tri said. “ … You can put them up real high on wires and pulleys to keep them out of the bears’ reach.”

Tri covered several other steps homeowners can take to avoid bears, including those related to trash storage, grill or smoker use, compost piles and more.

Latimer asked Tri about the typical behaviors of bears post-hibernation, without human intervention. Tri said the animals, which get all of the calories they need for the year over the course of about three and a half months, typically go for green plants first after emerging. Then, they’ll slowly transition to ants and insect larvae as the weather warms.

“When we capture bears (right now), their teeth are stained green from the chlorophyll of the grass and the clover that they’re eating,” Tri said. “A lot of them are spending a fair amount of time in wetlands right now, eating emergent vegetation. They’ll eat arrowhead and they’ll sometimes dig cattail tubers. … Additionally, skunk cabbage is a favorite this time of year.”

Bears look for calorie-rich foods when they’re available to satisfy their needs, which is why bird seed is attractive, Tri noted. In the wild, that might mean gorging on acorns.

“A standard 7-pound tube feeder is between (5,000) and 8,000 calories of black oilers (sunflower seeds),” Tri said. “And so if you have to eat about 10 pounds of blueberries to get anywhere close to that calorie level, so it’s just a no-brainer for why bears are hitting these things when they’re hungry.”

Latimer asked Tri what he should do, should he cross paths with a bear. Tri said the reaction depends on whether the bear is surprised. If the bear knows you’re there, just enjoy the moment, he said.

“These animals are amazing critters and it’s really cool to see bears. You don’t really have to be afraid at all. They’re not going to harm you if they know you’re coming,” Tri said. “And so just take a minute, snap some photos, snap a video. Don’t get too close, like some of the tourists in Yellowstone, you know, walking up to bison and grizzly bears.

“ … From a safe distance, just enjoy the moment.”

But if the bear is surprised, it will likely be agitated and may “bluff charge” — possibly several times. But Tri said much of the advice people should follow when it comes grizzly bears doesn’t apply to black bears.

“We only have black bears here, and if the black bear has decided that it’s going to try to make contact with you, then fight,” Tri said. “So hit it with a stick, pick up a rock — whatever you can fight (with). Punch it in the nose.”

BearWise At-Home Checklist

Bears are curious and will follow their powerful noses to just about anything with an odor (it doesn’t have to be a good odor). Bears may also investigate anything they’ve learned can yield a food reward: garbage, birdseed, pet food, chickens, beehives … you get the idea.

Use the Be BearWise Checklist to learn what attracts bears and how you can keep bears away from your home and property.

• Screens don’t keep out bears. Doors and windows in houses and outbuildings should be kept closed and locked, especially at night and if no one is home. 
• Trash containers that are not bear-resistant should be stored inside a sturdy locked building or bear-resistant enclosure, and garbage should be put out the morning of (not the night before). 
• Thoroughly clean grills and smokers. 
• Birds should not be fed while bears are active in the area. If one is feeding, feeders should be brought in nightly and fallen birdseed picked up before dark. 
• If pets must be fed outside, feed in single portions and remove bowls once meals are complete. 
• Fruit from trees or in gardens should be picked before it ripens or gathered from the ground daily. Avoid planting and consider removing ornamental fruit-bearing trees and bushes. 
• Follow USDA composting guidelines and consider using an indoor composter. 
• Take extra steps to keep farm animals and their feed safe. Bears may dig up buried carcasses. People are advised to consult their county extension offices for options. 
• Be aware of unexpected attractants that cannot be removed, like swimming pools or ponds, woods or dense bushes and natural foods like berries and acorns. 
• Keep a small trash bag in your vehicle and empty daily. Use an odor-removing spray, roll up windows and lock doors. 
• Wisely locate and protect beehives. 

Visit bearwise.org for more tips and specific information for coexisting with bears while owning dogs or how to attract songbirds without using bird food.

Source: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.