[Sean T]

OLYMPIA - Spring weather has arrived earlier than usual in many parts of the state, prompting state wildlife managers to expedite their annual warning about avoiding conflicts with black bears. Rich Beausoleil, bear and cougar specialist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said field staff have already received reports of black bear activity in North Bend, Issaquah and Chelan County. "Black bears usually emerge from their dens in mid-to-late April, but warm weather can cause them to stir earlier," Beausoleil said. "Whatever the timing, black bears are hungry when they emerge from their dens, because they lose up to half their body weight during hibernation." Natural foods are scarce this early in the year, so bears often start looking for the easiest source of high-protein food, he said. For that reason, Beausoleil strongly recommends that people take steps to avoid attracting black bears to their home. Particularly in areas known to attract bears, that means securing garbage cans, removing backyard bird seed and not leaving pet food outdoors. "If people would control these three bear attractants, the number of bear-human conflicts would be reduced significantly," he said. Last year, WDFW officials responded to 444 situations involving bears, ranging from raids on garbage cans and birdfeeders to confrontations with pets. In 2011, WDFW responded to 523 incidents involving black bears. "Bears are naturally wary of humans, but they can overcome that fear when they are rewarded with food provided intentionally or unintentionally by people," he said. "Situations involving bears that have learned to associate food sources with people often end badly for the bear." Two new state laws went into effect last summer that prohibit leaving food or food waste in places where it can attract bears and other wild carnivores. Intentional feeding can bring a fine of up to $1,000, or $87 for feeding that unintentional but "negligent." Human conflicts with bears tend to subside by mid-summer, when berries and other natural foods become available, and then pick up again in fall before the animals enter their dens, Beausoleil said. Beausoleil advises taking the following steps to prevent conflicts with bears: Never intentionally feed bears or other wild animals. Keep garbage cans in a garage or another secure area until collection day. Remove pet food from areas accessible to wildlife. Take down birdfeeders until winter. Thoroughly clean barbecue grills after each use. When camping, keep a clean campsite by thoroughly cleaning all cooking utensils after use and sealing uneaten food in airtight containers stored in bear-proof canisters away from sleeping areas. More information about how to avoid conflict with bears is available on WDFW’s website http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/bears.html .

[Jetlag]

Thanks, I haven't seen a bear on my property yet this Spring, but it's still getting down to 27 degrees in the morning. The 4 points of conflict in the article are definitely the primary ones here in the Bald Hills.

[treeswarper]

They usually start munching on tree cambium and contribute to deforestation when the sap starts running. They girdle the trees.

[Arginine]

A friend was telling me last weekend he got his Spring bear tag ever. I guess there's a lottery for them. He said he was gonna eat it but I can't imagine after all winter they'd be very tasty. But I've not had bear. He did promise me a claw if he shoots one. That'll be cool.

[Schenk]

I accidentally surprised one in February a couple years ago in N Idaho. I skied over a short little cliff/outcrop, and it had a den at the base; it was sitting down at the base of the cliff. The snow around it was DIRTY...looked like it was stained from something...urine maybe? I only saw it as I skied over and I did not go back and smell the place up with my human odor. Scared me as much as it scared the bear. I felt bad because it took off running and I really didn't want to chase it away. I buggered out of there as fast as I could so the bear could come back soon. I saw a big bear in Yellowstone one year in February too. It was cutting across the E slope Mt Sheridan on a sunny day.

[Sean T]

[treeswarper]

[trestle]

This

[trestle]

[RumiDude]

[Sean T]

johnson37, Dude, this person comes on a thread to complain about a bear eating something off a tree and contributing to deforestation but the same person has tons of pics of a person cutting down trees..LOL its like the wolf haters screaming about the elk, one day they want to save the elk from the big bad wolf but the next day there mad cuz the elk are eating trees and want something done about it..

[Malachai Constant]

You broke the code

[trestle]

[Hulksmash]

[onemoremile]

The houndsmen make pretty quick work of the bears on the tree farms. Not too many trees lost on many of those farms these days.