2 weeks Ago
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton today reminded New Yorkers to remove or secure outdoor food sources that may attract black bears. Throughout the spring and early summer months, black bears have depleted fat reserves and will search extensively for easily obtainable, calorie-dense foods, which can lead to an increase in the potential for human-bear conflicts near homes and residential areas, especially before the spring green-up when natural food sources for bears are scarce. “Across New York state, black bears are emerging from their winter dens looking for something good to eat, including human-created sources like bird feeders, grills, and pet food,” DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said.
“Repeated access to these food sources can make bears bolder, so DEC encourages New Yorkers to practice the BearWise basics to help keep bears wild and prevent the potential for human-bear conflicts.” Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
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