Be a Good Neighbor - Be Bear Aware
New Jersey is home to all kinds of beautiful wildlife
– including black bears.
Black bears are getting a lot of attention these days,
for the wrong reasons. They’re venturing too close to homes and
into backyards, looking for food. Bears that look for food near
your home or in your yard likely have learned bad habits from people
who feed them intentionally, or unintentionally by carelessly leaving
out food or garbage.
People who feed bears think they’re helping them.
But it only invites trouble. It can make them a nuisance or even
aggressive. When that happens, the bears must be destroyed to protect
your family and your neighbors. What’s more, it’s illegal to feed
bears in New Jersey. Anyone who feeds bears could face a penalty
of up to $1,000 for each offense.
Taking steps to avoid attracting bears with food or
garbage is the best way to prevent them from becoming a nuisance
near your home.
Here’s what you can do to Be a Good Neighbor
– Be Bear Aware:
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Use bear-proof garbage containers, if possible.
They offer the best protection. Otherwise, store all garbage
in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the
inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed
or other secure area.
-
Put out garbage on collection day, not the night
before.
-
Wash garbage containers with disinfectant solution
at least once a week to remove odors. Draping rags soaked in
bleach over your garbage bags also help to eliminate odors.
-
Feed dogs and cats outside during daylight hours
only. Immediately after feeding pets, remove all uneaten food
and scraps as well as food bowls.
-
Clean outdoor grills thoroughly after each use.
Grease and food residue will attract bears.
-
Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost
piles.
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Feed birds only between December 1 and April
1 when bears are least active. Suspend birdfeeders from a free-hanging
wire, making sure the bottom of the feeder is at least 10 feet
off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells.
-
Pick up any fruit that falls from fruit trees
daily, and discard it in garbage containers with tight-fitting
lids.
-
Consider installing electric fencing to protect
crops, beehives and small livestock, if you live in an area
with a large black bear population.
-
Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior
to your local police department or the New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife
at (908) 735-8793.
Visit www.njfishandwildlife.com for more information
on black bears.
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