Released June 10, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife managers have reported an increase in nuisance bear complaints in recent weeks. Most bear sightings are in rural northern Minnesota, but bears have also been spotted in the Brainerd area and Minneapolis-St. Paul suburbs.

“This is a tough time of year for bears,” said Mark Spoden, DNR assistant area wildlife manager in Grand Rapids. “After hibernation, they are hungry. When berries and vegetation are scarce, bears are often tempted by dog food, livestock feed, birdseed, barbecues, compost or garbage.”

In addition, female bears are chasing away last year’s offspring. These young bears are inexperienced at finding food and searching for territories of their own. They are the most likely to show up in places where they aren’t welcome.

Now is a good time for residents who live close to bear habitat to check their property for food sources that could attract bears, Spoden added. When human-related food is easy to find, bears stop seeking their natural foods.

Research and experience show that removing the food that attracts bears resolves bear problems much more effectively than attempting to trap and destroy the bear.

“If a bear enters your yard, don’t panic and don’t approach the bear,” said Spoden. “Always leave the bear an escape route. Everyone should leave the area and go inside until the bear leaves. A treed bear should be left alone as well. It will leave once the area is quiet.”

Bears are normally shy and usually flee when encountered, but they may defend an area if they are feeding or are with their young. They are unpredictable wild animals. Although they rarely injure people, they are potentially dangerous because of their size, strength and speed.

The DNR offers these tips for avoiding bear conflicts around the yard:

• do not approach or try to pet a bear
• do not leave food from barbeques and picnics outdoors, especially overnight; coolers are not bear-proof
• eliminate birdfeeders or hang them 10 feet up and 4 feet out from the nearest trees; use a rope-and-pulley system to refill feeders and clean up spilled feed
• where bears are a nuisance, birdfeeders should be taken down between April 1 and Dec. 1
• replace hummingbird feeders with hanging flower baskets, which also attract hummingbirds
• store pet food should inside and feed pets inside; if pets must feed outdoors, feed them only as much as they will eat
• clean and store barbeque grills after each use; put them in a secure shed or garage away from windows and doors
• pick fruit from trees as soon as it ripens and collect fallen fruit immediately
• limit compost piles to grass, leaves and garden clippings, and turn piles regularly; adding lime can reduce smells and help decomposition
• do not add food scraps to compost piles; kitchen scraps can be composted indoors in a worm box with minimum odor
• harvest garden produce as it matures; locate gardens away from forests and shrubs that bears may use for cover
• use native plants in landscaping whenever possible; clover and dandelions attract bears
• anyone who keeps bees should elevate the hives on bear-proof platforms, or erect properly designed electric fences
• do not put out feed for wildlife (corn, oats, pellets, three-way, molasses blocks)

Tips for avoiding bear conflicts around garbage:

• store garbage in bear-resistant garbage cans or dumpsters; rubber or plastic garbage cans are not bear-proof
• keep garbage inside a secure building until the morning of pickup
• store recyclable containers, such as pop cans, inside; the sweet smells attract bears
• store especially smelly garbage, such as meat or fish scraps, in a freezer until it can be taken to a refuse site.

People who have persistent bear problems after cleaning up food sources that attract bears should contact a DNR area wildlife office for assistance. For the name of a local wildlife manager, call the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

The DNR brochure “Learning To Live with Bears” is available online at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us.

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