Coexisting with Black Bears
BY LEAH MCFARLAND
This Spring Southeastern Massachusetts had a special species roam and swim across the area. I for one was ecstatic when I opened my Instagram feed and saw pictures of a male black bear venturing across the South Coast. It’s been a conservation dream of mine to see Black Bear return to this section of Mass, especially if they were to settle into the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve. However, in order for my dream to become a reality, the residents of Southeastern Mass need to change a couple of their daily habits in order for us to successfully co-exist peacefully.
Black bears are naturally secretive and shy. It is when they have easy access to food at your home is when they become nuisances. Contrary to popular belief, black bears are more vegetarian than carnivore. In the spring and early summer, they are out foraging in wetlands for grasses, sedges, tubers, fruits, and berries. As the summer heats up, bears embrace their carnivorous side and hunt for ants and other insects. In the fall the nut crops are ready for the black bears to devour them. In particular, they like acorns, hickory nuts, and beechnuts best.
Black bears are adaptable creatures and when they become tolerant of humans their adaptive behavior leads them to searching for food in people’s yards. Bird feeders, humming bird feeders, garbage, compost, and pet food all attract bears to your yards. For them, bird seed is an excellent source of protein and fat and they will destroy the feeder to access the desirable seed. How can we prevent black bears from venturing into our yards and tolerating human contact?
The answer is really simple. Remove all sources of food that will attract black bears. Keep your garbage in a locked bear-proof container. Take the bag out only on the morning of trash pick-up, not the night before. If you have a compost pile, transfer it into an enclosed compost barrel or sign-up for a compost collecting agency like Black Earth Compost. Instead of putting out bird and hummingbird feeders, plant your yard with native seed and fruit bearing plants, like little blue stem and chokeberry. These plants will attract birds and pollinators, but bears. Check out The Beecology Project for a list of native plants.
If the residents of Southeastern Mass were to remove all temptations, then we can peacefully co-exist. Black bears prefer remote terrain with thick understory vegetation, and an abundance of seasonal fruits, berries, and nut crops. By eliminating food sources from neighborhoods, bears will stick to large tracks of conservation land, like the Bioreserve or Myles Standish.
What should you do if you encounter a black bear on your favorite local hiking trail? Black bear attacks are very uncommon and they rarely become aggressive when encountered. If you do encounter a bear, talk loudly in a calm voice and back away slowly. Do not approach the bear. Keep your dog on leash and never allow them to chase or interact with bears. While hiking be observant of your surroundings to prevent any unwarranted interactions.
We can peacefully coexist with these magnificent creatures by making a few changes. After all, they have been living on the North American landscape for 500,00 years. Why not allow them to return?