Yes, It's A Bear: Black Bear Sighted Sunday In North Smithfield

NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI — The buzz Sunday night in northwest Rhode Island was all about the black bears. Several people called the state environmental police to report sightings. According to Charles Brown, of the Department of Environmental Management, they probably all saw the same bear.

"Several people saw one in the yard," he said. All the calls came from Burrillville and North Smithfield from addresses "within a stone's throw" apart. And all the calls came late Sunday afternoon or early Sunday evening. Most likely, it was just one bear, and he's probably a young male roaming.

"Yes, they are around," he said, although black bears are not that common in Rhode Island. Connecticut is home to between 600 and 800 black bears, he said. Most live in the western part of the state. Eastern and Central Massachusetts have comparatively big bear populations. Brown estimated bears number in the several thousands, with most living in the Berkshires.

"Their populations are steadily increasing in Southern New England," he said. Asked why, he said he could only speculate. They're increasing numbers could be partly due to the large amount of forested land, which provides habitat and partly due to animal protection laws, which have stopped hunters from killing them wholesale.

Typically, the bear sightings happen at this time of year and involve males 16 to 18 months old. They're usually born in January and spend 14 months in the den with their mothers. Then they're out walking around exploring. Without their mothers' protection, the young males can have a difficult time. Adult males will not tolerate them in their territory, Brown said, and adult females are also hostile. So western Rhode Island has become a refuge for them.

"They can wander around and not get beat up," he said.

Typically, if they are around yards, they're looking for food. They like bird feeders. In Maine and New Hampshire, residents know to take the feeders down April 1 and not put them back until November, but Rhode Islanders have not yet developed that "mindset," he said. In urban areas like East Providence and on Aquidneck Island, the bird feeders are not an issue. But they can be a problem in Charlestown, Westerly, Hopkinton, South Kingstown, and northwest rural areas like North Smithfield and Burrillville. People in those communities also have to "manage the trash" to make sure the bears aren't diving into the garbage.

Besides bird feeders, chicken coops attract bears, he said. Some people leave the chicken feed in barrels with a lid. A bear just tips the barrel over, he said.

The bears also may pose a threat to rabbits, goats and small livestock, like sheep. To protect the animals, people can use more substantial housing or better fencing.

Also, beekeepers might want to consider electronic fencing.

"We encourage the public to report sightings," he said so DEM can keep track of the situation.

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