It is that time again. Black bears are ending hibernation and will be prowling around, hungry after the long “nap” and looking for easy, high energy food. That means the black oil sunflower seeds that most of us use in our bird feeders. Like so many, in years past this writer has paid the price for being forgetful and bears have pulled down feeders and even come up on my deck for the pail where the sunflower seeds were kept, even when the feeders were taken inside.
My home is not far from “civilization” and bears are probably closer than you think to your bird feeders. Black bears can become a nuisance if they wander into your backyard and find food. They have great memories, and they will come back! MassWildlife has a lot of great information about living with black bears on their web site so you should check it out. Here are some high points that should help you learn how to prevent conflicts with bears.
Black bears spend more time in residential areas when they find food there. Bears that have become habituated and accustomed to human-associated foods, like your bird seed, trash and pet food, are likely to cause damage and become a nuisance. You need to remove the temptation of the food sources to “bear-proof” your yard.
The bears that do find food lose their fear of people and become problems — destructive problems. Bears have been known to break into buildings, large and small and even homes in search of food. That makes the bear a threat to public safety and it may need to be euthanized.
The best solution is to avoid bird feeders altogether. Bears finding a bird feeder, bird seed, corn or other bird food will often revisit that site. Bird feeders draw bears closer to residences, resulting in bears losing their fear of people. This process is called habituation. It’s not safe for bears or people to be close to one another. However, we love seeing the birds, so this is too extreme for most. If you choose to put out feeders, do it in the winter when bears are denned as it decreases the chances of a bear coming to your feeder. In general, most bears are denned from mid-December through February, so expect a big, night-time vandal any day now.
Trash is also very attractive to bruins. Store all garbage in closed containers in a garage or outbuilding. Do not leave your garbage barrels outside overnight. Rather, put them by the roadside before pickup. Using double bags or sprinkling with ammonia will help reduce odors. Smelly cans may attract bears even if there isn’t anything in them, so store garbage cans inside.
My personal experience has proven that your barbecue grill can be a target for a bear. Clean greasy barbecues and grills after each use. Do not leave food scraps, grease containers or spilled grease in your yard. Pet food is a tasty treat for bears so don’t leave pet food outdoors. Pets also can be at risk. The presence of a dog could trigger a bear to be aggressive. Keep dogs leashed and never let dogs chase or interact with bears. Check your yard for bears before letting your dog out. Twice, my dog Dinah has chased bears before I could call her off. If you encounter a bear while walking with your dog, back away slowly and leave the area.
Woodcock are definitely in locally as the dogs have been finding and pointing them. It is great training during the narrow window until the hens nest. As soon as birds give any indication of nesting activity, that ends it for me. The spring show of males spiraling out of sight is unforgettable and worth the trip to a wet area with an opening nearby. You will never forget the sounds and sight of the male flying up and settling back down.
A reader called me this week with an excellent suggestion. There is a great deal of data to suggest that mylar balloons pose a significant risk to wildlife. They all end up somewhere, most in wild places, and do not degrade for years. Please think twice about buying Mylar balloons and never release one into the air to fly away. Away is a real place that could endanger a bird or animal.
Turkeys are shifting habits and large flocks are splitting up. Gobbling is starting and the hens will soon be separating to mate and nest. This week Dr. Andrew Sawyer, my upland hunting partner in the fall and host in Alabama in January, called. He related his successful Alabama turkey hunt where he managed to bag a mature tom (10-inch beard and 1½ inch spurs) with his bow! A very significant feat as turkeys with a bow require a lot more expertise than a shotgun. That bird may end up as mount in the cabin!
Thursday another MassWildlife listening session will be held via Zoom at 6:30. You can go to the MassWildlife web page for details. No one involved likes the hefty increases required to balance the budget and many different actions are being considered but without something significant, the only revenue option is increased costs for licenses and permits. A number of avenues are being pursued but they require actions outside of what MassWildlife can do. The timetable for action does not leave a lot of time as the 2022 license year is when things will need to happen.
Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, Counselor and Director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, has been a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor for over 40 years, is a licensed New York hunting guide and is a passionate hunter and fisherman. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.