With summer upon us here in the mountains, it's essential to ensure that your outdoor spaces don't attract unwanted wildlife, particularly bears. These intelligent and curious creatures can be a nuisance and a danger if they find easy access to food around your home. Here are some tips to help you safely keep bears away from your trash and bird feeders:
Secure Your Trash
Use Bear-Resistant Containers:
Invest in bear-resistant trash cans and storage containers. These are designed to be difficult for bears to open.
Store Trash Indoors:
Keep your trash inside your house, garage, or a sturdy shed until the morning of collection day. Bears are most active at night, so this reduces the chance of them encountering your trash.
Clean Your Trash Cans:
Regularly wash your trash cans with ammonia or bleach to eliminate food odors that attract bears.
Avoid Overfilling:
Ensure the lids of your trash cans are fully closed and latched. Overfilled cans that can't be closed securely are an open invitation to bears.
Protect Your Bird Feeders
Remove Feeders at Night:
Bears are nocturnal and typically search for food at night. Bring bird feeders indoors or use bear-proof feeders during nighttime.
Use High-Placement Feeders:
Place bird feeders at least 10 feet off the ground and 4 feet away from any structures that bears could climb. This will make it more challenging for them to access them.
Clean Up Spilled Seed:
Regularly clean the area around your bird feeders to remove any spilled seed that could attract bears. Consider using tray feeders to minimize spillage.
Switch to Hummingbird Feeders:
If bear activity is high, consider switching to hummingbird feeders, which are less likely to attract bears. Ensure these feeders are placed high and away from easy access points.
General Tips
Remove Attractants:
Bears are attracted to anything that smells like food, including pet food, barbecue grills, and compost piles. Store these items securely and clean them regularly.
Bear Deterrents:
Consider using bear deterrents like motion-activated lights or alarms to scare bears away from your property.
Educate Your Neighbors:
Bear prevention is more effective when the whole community participates. Share these tips with your neighbors to create a bear-aware neighborhood.
Conclusion
By taking these precautions, you can enjoy a safe and bear-free summer. Remember, a little effort in securing food sources can go a long way in preventing bear encounters and keeping you and the bears safe. For even more information and how to get involved with keeping your area safe visit https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/LivingwithWildlifeWildBears.aspx#:~:text=Bear%20Aware%20is%20a%20network,make%20house%20calls%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B.
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