Apart from the warming temperatures, a sure sign of spring is that bears are being seen venturing out from their winter hibernation. It’s also a sign that Alaskans need to be bear aware by cleaning up food attractants around their homes and neighborhoods.
Because it’s early in the season, natural foods are scarce in many parts of Alaska, which can make human-provided attractants particularly inviting to bears. Feeding bears, even unintentionally, is illegal and can result in fines. If residents keep bears out of human-provided food for now, bears can be kept from forming bad habits and creating problems later in the summer.
To prevent bear problems this summer, biologists with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game suggest:
- Store trash inside buildings or in bear-proof containers; keep secured until the day of scheduled pickup. Encourage neighbors to do the same.
- Use properly constructed electric fences to exclude bears from gardens, compost, chicken coops, and domestic animals.
- Clean barbecue grills, especially grease traps, after each use.
- Feed pets indoors or clean up excess and spilled food between meals. Store pet food, livestock food, and birdseed indoors or in bear-resistant containers.
- Take feeders down April–October, store out of bears’ reach and remove spilled seed.
- Keep freezers locked in a secure building.
ADF&G advises residents to keep their communities safe by securing attractants. If you or someone you know is having trouble with bears getting into an attractant, contact the Alaska Department of Fish and Game office in Soldotna at (907) 262-9368.