Bears, oh my!

Late Monday, the McIntosh Times received a phone call about a bear on the South side of town. Indeed, upon investigation, there was a bear in town.

Then, there was another sighting north of town, and another about half way between Fosston and McIntosh on Highway 2. They all of a sudden seemed to be everywhere.

Well, upon talking with Emily Hutchins, a Certified Wildlife Biologist® and the Assistant Area Wildlife Manager in the Crookston Office of the DNR, there have been many more bear in the area over the recent years. 

The reasoning, we reside in the area where the forest and the fields meet, there is a lot of what a bear likes to eat around here and it is fairly easy to get to, and there is still fairly good cover for bears to live in.

Here is some more information she gave me about bears: 

A symbol of our northern forest lands black bears can live successfully in close proximity to people. Conflicts between bears and people can arise when bears, usually seeking food, cause damage. However, people can learn to prevent most of this from occurring.  A bear will take advantage of any food source available and will attempt to eat anything that looks, smells or tastes like food. When natural foods such as berries, nuts, bugs, tender vegetation and meat are scarce, bears will search for something to eat.

This is usually when bears most often come in contact with people. When bears find a source of food, they will usually return to it regularly.

Bears are attracted to homes by garbage and bird feeders. Pet food, charcoal grills, fruit trees and gardens may also attract bears. Once a bear finds food around your home, it will likely return. Never feed bears, they will associate people with food and may become a problem.

To minimize bear problems on your property, reduce garbage odors by rinsing food cans and wrappers before disposal; keep meat scraps in your freezer until garbage pick-up day; wash out your garbage cans regularly and use lime to cut odor; keep pet food inside; remove bird feeders in the spring; barking dogs, bright lights and noisemakers will sometimes discourage bears from coming into an area.

If a bear comes into your yard, do not approach it. Most bears fear people and will leave when they see you. If a bear woofs, snaps its jaws, slaps the ground or brush, or bluff charges, you are too close. Back away slowly and go inside and wait for the bear to leave. It is rare that a bear cannot be chased away by loud noises and throwing things at it. 

If you are worried, there are spray repellents containing capsaicin that are available to discourage bold bears. These repellents are effective and will not make the bear aggressive. 

Landowners sometimes experience bear problems with livestock, crops, orchards, berry patches and beehives.

Because of potentially large financial losses, bears can be controlled with electrical fencing that has voltage sufficient to ward away bears.

Sometimes a bear causing problems must be destroyed by the DNR. This should be done only after exhausting all other options. Your local DNR Area Wildlife Manager may attempt to trap a bear if it is determined that this would be the best solution. Most bears that are trapped because they have become a nuisance, are destroyed rather than relocated to a different site. Relocated bears seldom remain where they are released.  They may return to where they were caught or become a problem somewhere else.

Research and experience have clearly shown that removing the food that attracts bears resolves the problems much more than attempting to trap and destroy, or relocate the bear. A person my kill a bear to protect their property, however, this option should be used only if the bear is causing immediate damage. The killing of a problem bear must be reported to a Conservation Officer within 48 hours.