Learn how to remove or secure common bear attractants.





Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife





*mefishwildlife.com*






Spring is here and bears are emerging from their dens
black bear taking down a bird feeder in a backyard [ [link removed] ]

After not eating or drinking for several months, it?s time for water, stretching and wandering around. Soon after getting their bearings, bears start looking for food.

Early spring when natural foods are scarce and before berries begin to ripen in late summer,?backyard food sources start to smell "especially good".

Prevent black bears from dining in "your neighborhood" *and damaging your property*:

garbage can

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Keep garbage and recycling indoors. If you have curbside pickup, wait until that morning to bring it outside.



bird feeder

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Store bird seed and feeders (even empty ones) indoors until the winter. View these tips for attracting birds not bears. [ [link removed](birds).pdf ]



cat dog pig

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Keep pet and livestock food indoors.



grill

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Clean your grill or smoker after each use, and store it in a secure building.



*Learn More about Living with Black Bears* [ [link removed] ]






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bear range map
Did you know...

* Maine is home to one of the largest population of black bears in the eastern United States.
* Black bears in Maine are most active between April 1 and November 1.
* Black bears require forests for protection and food. They are amazingly adaptable to human presence, and are able to survive in close proximity to housing developments and suburban areas wherever escape cover exists. The map to the left shows black bear primary, secondary, and peripheral range in Maine... meaning black bears live closer than many people realize (even if you never see one of these elusive mammals)!
* Black bears have an impressive and keen sense of smell (2,100 times better smell than a human!) to help them search for food for miles away.


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More information

Living with wildlife [ [link removed] ]

Living with black bears [ [link removed] ]

How to avoid or resolve a wildlife conflict [ [link removed] ]

Dealing with orphaned or injured wildlife [ [link removed] ]

Wildlife diseases [ [link removed] ]

Find an Animal Damage Control (ADC) agent [ [link removed] ]








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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ?41 State House Station ? Augusta, ME 04333-0041 ? (207) 287-8000 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]