The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says warm spring weather and melting snows are causing bears to come out of their winter dens in search of food.
The department recommends taking down bird feeders in early April to avoid attracting bears.
“Many bears went into their winter dens in poorer than normal condition due to a shortage of acorns, beechnuts, and apples last fall,” Forrest Hammond, Vermont's bear biologist, said in a news release. “Some bears will be coming out of their dens more hungry than normal due to low fat reserves.”
Bears are very fond of suet and bird seed, especially black oil sunflower seed. Bringing feeders in at night doesn't work, because bears will still feed on seed that is spilled on the ground.
Bird feeders are just one of the things that can attract hungry bears.
Other sources of food that bears find appealing include pet food, barbecue grills, garbage, household trash containers, open dumpsters, and campsites with accessible food and food wastes.
Purposely feeding a bear isn't just bad for the bear, it's also illegal.
Fish & Wildlife also offers the following tips to avoid bear problems:
• Keep chickens and honeybees secure within an electric fence or other bear-proof enclosure.
• Never feed bears, deliberately or accidentally.
• Feed your pets indoors.
• Store trash in a secure place. Trash cans alone aren't enough.
“We are asking anyone who has a problem with a bear to report the incident in a form that we have on our website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) under Living with Wildlife,” Hammond said. “There is a section in the form where you can ask us to call you to provide advice.”