Rural homeowners need to be aware of bears, other animals in spring
SPOONER, Wis. -- Bears, raccoons and other animals are coming out of hibernation in Wisconsin, and with food sources limited this time of year, bird seed, suet and garbage are easy meals that can draw the hungry critters close to residences and campgrounds in search for food.
Bears
Campers, homeowners, and other visitors in bear country can avoid problems with these animals by making sure they don’t create the kind of situations that attract bears, state wildlife officials say. Feeding bears either purposefully or accidentally is dangerous because the bears begin to loose their fear of humans. It is also expensive for the state and cruel to the bears, since often the bears must be trapped and relocated or destroyed.
“If you understand what attracts bears and practice common sense, your likelihood of encountering one close to home or camp is extremely small,” says Mike Zeckmeister, wildlife biologist.
The best way to avoid trouble with bears is to follow these steps:
Around home:
* Do not knowingly feed a bear (or other wild animals).
* Reduce garbage odors by rinsing food cans before putting in recycling containers or garbage cans.
* Compost vegetable scraps.
* Keep meat scraps in the freezer until garbage day and garbage cans in a closed building until pick up.
* Remove bird feeders in the spring; if you do feed during the summer, remove suet and hummingbird feeders at night or put them high out of reach of a bear.
* Keep pet food inside or do not feed in the evening.
* Keep barbecue grills and picnic tables clean.
* Use an electric fence to keep bears from beehives, sweet corn, fruit trees and berry patches.
While in the woods:
* Clear food off picnic tables and grills.
* Do not have any food and candy in your tent.
If you encounter a bear while in the woods, don’t panic, don’t shoot the bear and don’t approach it. Give it space, walk away and watch from a distance. Do not approach sows with cubs.
If a bear is near your home or campsite, wave your arms and make some noise to scare the bear away. Then back away slowly or go inside and wait for the bear to leave. If the bear found food such as bird feed or garbage one or more times, it will return once or twice to see if it can again find food. When food is no longer available, the visits will stop.
Raccoons, skunks, and other animals
See the above information on “around home” to keep raccoons, skunks, and other animals from getting into garbage cans, garages, homes, and other areas where food wastes are stored. Once these animals find out that food in not available near your home, they will return to natural food sources.
Brochures better explaining bear habitats and ways to avoid them, nuisance wild animal removal, and others are available from your local DNR Service Center. If you have bear troubles and are in need of assistance please call USDA Wildlife Services 24-hour hotline at 1-800-228-1368.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: DNR Bureau of Wildlife Management – - (608) 267-7857
