As the weather warms, all the animals that were slumbering during the cold winter months are beginning to awaken. With their awakening comes a ravenous appetite and a one-track mind on finding plentiful food sources. Unfortunately, as humans encroach further and further onto their territory, bears are beginning to appear in places they do not belong. Now, experts are advising on how to peacefully coexist with bears so that neither humans nor bears get hurt.
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Bears And Humans: Increased Interactions
VTDigger shared details surrounding why bears seem more populous, as well as how to deal with them. Between bear populations increasing, climate warming, and humans expanding, there are a lot of factors contributing to the increased interactions.
As the weather is warming, bears have one thing on their mind: food. Having humans nearby does nothing to dissuade them. In fact, they often find food sources in or near human property. These food sources often come in the form of “backyard beehives, birdfeeders, compost piles, and even chicken coops.”
Jaclyn Comeau, bear biologist at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, had a lot to say on the matter. When speaking to the outlet, she argued that the increased bear-human interactions are in part humans’ fault. “We have slowly been teaching our bears that our backyards are a good place to find high-calorie, easily accessible foods,” she shared. Additionally, she argued that by not changing our behavior, “we continue to keep reinforcing that (meaning bears entering our yards) behavior.”
Experts Share How To Peacefully Coexist With Bears
Bears continuously looking for food in or near humans’ homes leads to more conflict with bears. That is why experts are eager to share ways to peacefully coexist with bears so that no one will be harmed. Comeau argued that the best way to combat conflict is to be proactive.
That means removing any and all bear food sources from your property early in the season when they are most desperate for food. She shared that those food sources include “taking down bird feeders, storing trash and compost in bear-resistant containers, and putting electric fences around chicken coops and bee hives.”
