7 months ago
We are seeing more black bears in Western New York. They have been sightings along highways in Erie and Niagara Counties, and some are even showing up in backyards.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reminds Western New Yorkers to remain vigilant and take precautions to avoid a negative encounter.
To help people understand why the bears are traveling into new areas, the DEC is offering several informational meetings.
They are scheduled as follows so people can find one near their home;
- Thursday, July 2nd: 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM, Julia Boyer Reinstein Public Library, 1030 Losson Rd., Cheektowaga
- Tuesday, July 7th: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Lancaster Municipal Building, 5423 Broadway, Lancaster
The DEC says the recent instances of black bears moving through urban areas have involved male bears, who are on their own for the first time and are trying to locate a home area.
While not inherently dangerous, black bears can become a nuisance and can cause significant damage to property if they are able to obtain an easy meal from bird feeders, garbage cans, dumpsters, barbecue grills, tents, vehicles, out-buildings or houses.
To help minize any potential for a problem, the DEC offers this list of suggestions;
- Never feed bears.
- If you believe that bears are being fed, intentionally or unintentionally, immediately report it to DEC.
- Stop feeding birds as soon as the snow melts. Birds do not need supplemental food in the summer, when natural foods are most abundant. Clean up all seed fragments and shells left over from winter feeding as the smell will attract bears.
- Dispose of garbage as frequently as possible. Store it in clean, secure containers. Sprinkle ammonia inside the garbage bag before closing. Tie off garbage bags before placing them in containers.
- Keep garbage in cans inside buildings whenever possible.
- If garbage is picked up at the curb, put the garbage out just before the scheduled pickup or place it in a roadside bear-resistant container. Do not put garbage out the night before curbside pick-up. Clean garbage cans frequently with ammonia.
- Do not add meat scraps, bones or melon rinds to your compost pile.
- Do not burn garbage, especially meat scraps and grease.
- Clean barbecue grills before night fall and, after they cool down, store them inside;
- Feed pets indoors and store pet food indoors. If pets must be fed outdoors, take in all uneaten food and dishes before dark.
Additional information about bears in New York State can be found on DEC's website.
