DEC Requests Public's Help in Reducing and Reporting Nuisance Bear Incidents

With the onset of warmer weather, Adirondack and northern New York black bears are on the move. The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has been notified of nuisance bears in the towns of Corinth, Chestertown, Fort Ann and other areas across the state.

Homeowners are reminded of the steps they can take to avoid conflicts with bears. The simplest way to avoid a nuisance encounter is to remove all potential attractants, which in most cases is garbage, bird feeders, pet food, and grills. Here is what you can do to help avoid bear conflicts:

• Store garbage cans and grills in a secure building or location.
• Secure lids on outdoor garbage containers with chains and locks and/or protect them with electric fencing.
• Do not leave garbage containers outside over-night; put them out immediately prior to pick-up.
• Remove bird feeders and suet.
• Feed pets indoors and store pet food indoors.

If you or your neighbor are having problems with nuisance bears or suspect someone is feeding bears, please report immediately to the DEC dispatch at 518- 897-1326.

When reported immediately, nuisance bear issues can often be resolved by working with community members to increase public awareness and remove attractants. When nuisance bears go unreported, they may quickly become a significant safety hazard for people and/or pets, and such scenarios often have undesirable outcomes for both people and bears.

For additional information on how to reduce human-bear conflicts please visit the DEC website.