Tips for Home Owners

How to keep bears out of your yard… because garbage kills bears!

Be bear aware in spring and early summer

Throughout most of the spring and early summer, bears use more energy than they get from the food they eat. They spend much of their time foraging. With a keen sense of smell, this search can lead them into contact with people.

Not all things that a bear smells will be food, but all things that smell may attract the attention of a foraging bear. When you are evaluating your home, yard, or camp for bear foods, you must think in terms of what might attract them to you - not necessarily what they can eat.

Spoiled bears quickly become dangerous bears

Every year, dozens of bears have to be killed because they get into trouble with people.

It all starts innocently; a bear foraging in search of food comes across an unfamiliar odor, one it as not smelled before and it decides to investigate. If it succeeds in getting an easy meal from some improperly stored garbage or food, it is almost certain to return or seek this same food source elsewhere.

Soon it is accustomed to this pattern, and doesn't hesitate to break open a shed door to seek food. Barking dogs and shouting people are ignored. Conservation Officers must hunt this bear because it now associates people with food and has become a spoiled and dangerous bear.

Don't be responsible for this scenario happening in your neighbourhood!

Avoid these bear attractants
Some of the more common items that may attract a bear to your yard/camp are:

• Garbage
• Improperly stored foods
• Improperly burned garbage
• Compost
• Propane Barbeques
• Animal wastes
• Pet foods and bird seed
• Oils and Fertilizers (fish oil)

Report problem bears. Call 1-800-661-0525!

In addition to reporting fish, wildlife and environmental violators to the TIP line, you can also use the toll-free number to report sightings of potential problem bears.

To find out more
For more information on bears and attractants,
contact your local Conservation Officer.