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DEC Reminds New Yorkers to Be 'BearWise' This Spring
Published: April 12, 2025 at
06:00 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Reminds New Yorkers to Be 'BearWise'
This Spring
Public Encouraged to Remove Bird Feeders, Feed Pets
Indoors
26th Annual Eastern Black Bear
Management Workshop Held in Lake Placid
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Amanda
Lefton reminds 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.”
DEC advises New
Yorkers to reduce the potential for human-bear conflicts to protect bears
and themselves by practicing the BearWise basics:
- Empty feeders and clean spilled seed and let nature feed the birds from spring
through fall.
- Secure or store garbage and recycling cans in
a sturdy building.
- Clean and remove residual grease and food
from grills and smokers.
- Keep pets and livestock food indoors; those
with chicken coops or apiaries should consider installing an electric
fence to protect flocks and hives.
Lastly, neighbors
should alert neighbors to any bear activity so they can take these same
precautions.
New Yorkers are
advised to never feed or approach bears. Feeding bears intentionally is
dangerous and illegal. Bears that become habituated to being fed can become
a threat to people and property.
This week, DEC
hosted the 26th Eastern Black Bear Workshop (EBBW). The
EBBW is a biannual meeting of bear managers, researchers, and biologists
from across North America that facilitates information sharing and
collaboration to address the challenges facing bear conservation and
management. In 1972, DEC hosted the first workshop, which included bear
biologists from 11 U.S. states and the U.S. Department of the Interior. At
the time, there were only approximately 2,000 to 3,000 black bears in New
York. This year, more than 100 black bear management experts representing
25 U.S. States and Canada, as well as representatives from academia,
national parks, non-governmental organizations, and private industry
attended this event. DEC estimates there are currently approximately 8,000
bears in New York. This conservation success story demonstrates the
effectiveness of DEC’s science-based approach to black bear management in
New York State. The knowledge and experiences shared at these workshops is
invaluable to improving black bear management in New York.
By taking time to
practice the BearWise basics, removing any unnatural food
attractants and encouraging neighbors to do the same, New Yorkers are
helping keep bears away from people, homes, and neighborhoods, and that
helps keep bears healthy, wild, and safe.
For more information on how to live
responsibly with black bears, visit DEC's website and Bearwise.org.
More information
on reducing backyard bear conflicts is available on
DEC’s YouTube page.
More information
on reducing bear conflicts while camping is available
on DEC’s YouTube page.
A 2024 interview with DEC Big Game Biologist, Brendan Quirion is
available to download (video, 261 MB).
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