Editor's Note:  Thanks to John Callahan for pointing us to this bit of timely advice from the MassWildlife [1] website.  A story about bears in Dunstable [1] was published last August in the Dunstable News.

To avoid possible seasonal conflicts between people and bears in central and western Massachusetts, MassWildlife recommends that bird feeders be taken down by mid-March and that other preventive actions be taken. With the lack of snow and warmer days, bears leave their winter dens.

"There is little in the way of natural foods and bears learn to seek out high-energy human foods such as bird seed," says Jim Cardoza, MassWildlife Bear Project Leader.  "This may lead to conflicts that pose hazards to both bearsand people."

Though Massachusetts is a small state with the third highest density of people in the country, it is also home to approximately 2000 resident bears with the majority living west of the Connecticut River, but bears also reside as far east as Worcester County and northern Middlesex County.

Bears have excellent long-term memories and remember which foods are available at different seasons, and where these foods can be found. Even if a feeder is inaccessible to bears, they will be attracted by the scent of seed and suet and they will scavenge seed spilled on the ground. Once they learn the location of these foods, they will return.

Bears are typically shy and fearful of people but deliberate feeding or indirect availability of human food, coupled with a lack of harassment can cause bears to become accustomed to people. If bears lose their fear of people, and develop a taste for human foodstuffs, bears can become bolder and may cause damage that ultimately leads to harm to people or the demise of the animal.

If a bear is passing through a neighborhood without stopping, enjoy the sight. However, if the bear stops to feed on trash, bird seed or other human generated foods, remove those foods after the bear has left and advise all neighbors to do the same. Garbage and pet food must be secured from bears. Keep garbage in airtight containers, securely stored in a cellar, garage or shed. Put trash out for roadside pickup the day of trash pickup, not the night before. Keep trash cans clean and wash them regularly to remove food scraps and fluids. Bears can break into small sheds with loose doors, especially when attracted by sweet or meaty smells. Ammonia or bleach may help deodorize trash containers. If feeding pets outside, don't leave food out all day. Do not deposit sweet or meaty items in your compost pile as bears will soon find it. In residential areas where bears are known to be present, the entire neighborhood must take recommended actions or bears will move from yard to yard seeking food. Cardoza noted these actions also reduce problems with other common wildlife species such as coyotes, raccoons,
skunks and foxes.

Common sense, good sanitation, and knowledge of bear behavior and habits will go a long way to alleviating human-bear conflicts, allowing everyone to enjoy this magnificent animal while preventing damage or disturbance to our homes and yards. For more detailed bear information, click the Wildlife button on the MassWildlife website: