Police Say Be Wary Of Attracting Bears

MERRIMACK -- Warmer weather means bears are waking up all over New England.

On Thursday, that meant a Massachusetts highway was shut down for 30 minutes as state environmental police removed a mother bear and her cubs from a den they made in the median.

While baby bears are cute, bigger bears can be dangerous, especially when watching over baby bears. That’s why New Hampshire Fish and Game and local police are urging residents to remove items that could bring them to your back door.

“Black bears are now active and seeking food,” Merrimack Police posted on its Facebook page this week. “It’s time to take down your bird feeders!”

The notice also recommends removing other attractants, such as trash cans full of garbage, that could bring foragers.

“The black bear food source was scare this fall,” Merrimack PD said, “so the bears will emerge from hibernation hungrier than usual. Always remember, mother bears are rarely aggressive toward humans, but they are protective of their cubs. If you see bear cubs, mama bear is close by. Please do your part to help prevent these beautiful mammals from getting into nuisance situations we can easily prevent.”

NH Fish & Game Bear Project Leader Andrew Timmins said that while residential bear sightings are typically rare in the fall, they were more frequent prior to this past hibernation season. With the lack of natural food - including acorns and beech nuts - due to statewide crop failures, bears went closer to homes rummaging around compost piles, grills and dumpsters.

"Bears are now desperate for any available food," Timmins said.

Residents are asked to take down bird feeders no later than April 1 in the North Country, and
by March 15 in central and southern parts of the state.

“Bears have an extremely acute sense of smell and long memories,” said Timmins, “so we really need the cooperation of residents this spring to prevent emerging bears from returning to locations where they were successful in finding backyard food sources. It is harmful for bears to become conditioned to forage around homes and in residential areas because they will lose some of their natural aversion to humans.

"Bears are much better off in the wild.”

The mother bear who caused Route 2 in Templeton, Mass. to close on Thursday had to be tranquilized, but state police said the bear family was safely brought to a nearby state forest.

If you have questions regarding bear-related issues, you can get advice at 1-888-SHY-BEAR.