Bears this time of year are searching for high calorie food sources and will take advantage of potential food sources around your property, such as garbage, bird food, or pet food, all of which they can smell food from over a mile away. It is incredibly dangerous for bears to check out our homes and communities to see what’s on the menu as they often have to be put down when they become too comfortable around humans.
Bears this time of year are searching for high calorie food sources and will take advantage of potential food sources around your property, such as garbage, bird food, or pet food, all of which they can smell food from over a mile away. It is incredibly dangerous for bears to check out our homes and communities to see what’s on the menu as they often have to be put down when they become too comfortable around humans. Please follow these tips to prevent attracting bears:
- Always keep garbage cans in a garage or a sturdy building until collection day. Use a bear proof garbage can if possible. Contact your solid waste company to see if they sell them or have one they recommend.
- Take down bird feeders in the spring and early summer.
- Thoroughly clean barbecue grills after each use and store them in a secure building.
- Cage and electric fence your domestic fowl and livestock pens.
- Avoid storing food in your car.
WDFW officers respond to a variety of situations involving bears every year, and most are due to human-provided attractants which are entirely preventable. Two state laws prohibit leaving food or food waste in places where it can attract bears and other wild carnivores. Feeding bears, intentionally or unintentionally, can bring a fine of $87, while the fine for intentional feeding can be as much as $1,000. You can find more information about how to avoid conflict with bears at wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/ursus-americanus. Please contact your regional office at wdfw.wa.gov/about/regional-offices if you have questions regarding living with bears.
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