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News Black bears are active and searching for food: take precautions

If you have bird feeders or if you keep chickens, bee hives, or livestock act now to keep bears wild and out of neighborhoods.
3/07/2023
  • Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Media Contact for Black bears are active and searching for food: take precautions

Media Contact, MassWildlife

Don't feed bears. Take down your bird feeders.

MassWildlife officials are reminding the public that March is the month when hungry bears emerge from their winter dens and seek out food. If you live in northern Middlesex County, Worcester County, western Massachusetts, or other areas where bears have been spotted, it's time to take down your bird feeders. Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but last year’s fall hard mast crop was meager. Bears will often ignore seasonally available natural foods including skunk cabbage in favor of an easy meal at a backyard bird feeder. Other species including wild turkeys and coyotes may also frequent bird feeders leading to a variety of nuisance issues. To avoid these problems, MassWildlife asks property owners to be proactive by removing bird feeders and other potential food sources including garbage or open compost. If you enjoy watching birds in your yard, MassWildlife suggests adding a water feature, growing native plants, shrubs, and trees to attract birds. Individuals should also secure bee hives, chickens, and livestock. Properly maintained electric fencing is the only way to protect chickens or bee hives from bears. Taking these actions may prevent the unnatural feeding of bears and other kinds of neighborhood wildlife.

There are at least 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts and their range is expanding eastward. Take action by educating yourself and your neighbors about proactive measures to avoid conflicts with bears. For more information about black bears in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov/bears.

Media Contact for Black bears are active and searching for food: take precautions

  • Division of Fisheries and Wildlife 

    MassWildlife is responsible for the conservation of freshwater fish and wildlife in the Commonwealth, including endangered plants and animals. MassWildlife restores, protects, and manages land for wildlife to thrive and for people to enjoy.
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