Eight Things To Know If You Live In Bear Country

It’s no secret that bears are large, voracious, and aggressive predators. That makes living near bears a scary prospect that can end in disaster if you aren’t careful enough. Because of that, we’ve put together eight important things to know if you live in bear country. 

You must know that bears are mostly active at dusk and dawn during the spring and summer. They get especially aggressive in late summer and early fall when they eat a lot before hibernating. Be aware that bears can invade your home if they find traces of food nearby, whether it be in your trash can or a fruit-bearing tree. 

Some homeowners invest in electric fences to keep bears off their properties. This is a worthy investment if you’ve had one too many close calls with bears. Follow along as we highlight eight important things to know if you live in an area with bears. 

What To Know If You Live In An Area With Bears

The most important thing to know if you live in an area with bears is that you are at risk of being attacked. However, that doesn’t mean that you’re doomed to be terrorized forever by bears. You can protect your home, pets, and family if you take a few steps to stay safe from bears, such as:

1. Be Careful During Dusk And Dawn

Bears are most active during dusk and dawn when they search for food and shelter. However, you can spot a bear at any time if you live in an area with a dense population. Bears can eat over 100 pounds of food per week, depending on the species, so they spend a lot of time searching for food.

They become especially active before fall when they are preparing to go into hibernation. Naturally, they eat a lot before they hibernate, as they won’t hunt for food for 4-8 months. It’s important to be especially careful around September and October, when bears prepare to hibernate. 

They can become more brazen and aggressive, as they must eat as much as possible before they hibernate. Avoid early morning and evening hikes if you live near bears. You may encounter bears during your hike, and it’s not worth the risk. 

2. Keep Your Pets Nearby

While you should let your dogs have fun outside, you must be careful about where you let them go. That’s because dogs are naturally protective of their families, even if they go up against bears. Because of that, your dog may bark at a bear that passes by.

Your dog can unknowingly trigger an aggressive, defensive response and make the bear go into attack mode. Ideally, you shouldn’t let your dog stay outside unattended in an area with an active bear population. Your dog may have good intentions, but they are likely no match for an aggressive bear. 

It’s a great idea to keep your dog on a leash when you take them outside. That way, they can’t chase bears, and you can more easily get them inside as needed. Avoid using headphones when outside with your dog so you can pay attention to your surroundings. 

3. Mind Your Surroundings

It’s all too easy to accidentally stumble upon a bear on a hike or even in your backyard. This is the worst-case scenario as a startled bear can quickly become aggressive. Typically, bears don’t lock onto a target if they’re 100 yards away from them. 

However, you can’t control how close you are to a bear if you come down a trail and find yourself right by one. That’s why it’s important to constantly keep your eyes peeled in your yard and on trails where bears are active. 

4. Don’t Leave Food Out

It’s easy to leave scraps of food out during the spring and summer when you enjoy an outdoor meal or have a barbecue. However, it won’t take bears long to hone in your house and search for food. The more food scraps they find, the more likely they are to linger at your house.

They may become more brazen and even try to enter your home. That’s why it’s also a bad idea to keep your trash cans outside your house if you live near bears. Keep your trash cans inside your garage or home, so you don’t entice bears. 

However, you can find bear-resistant trash cans that can keep bears out of them. The only problem with them is that they can still cause bears to linger on your property if they smell the food. It’s a great idea to wait to put your trash cans outside until the day they get picked up by your local garbage collection service. 

5. Carefully Plan Your Garden

Planting fruits and vegetables is quite rewarding, but it can also invite danger to your house. It won’t take long for local bears to view your home as a food source. Ideally, you should plant your fruits and vegetables as far away from your house as possible.

Unfortunately, you may have to forego growing food altogether if your property is too small to keep your fruit-bearing plants far from your home. It’s not worth the risk of attracting bears who can eventually break into your home. 

6. Fortify Your Home’s Entry Points

Adult bears can weigh between 400 and 1,200 pounds depending on their species, gender, and age. Their vast size lets them easily break through doors and windows to enter your home. Today, you can find bear-fortified doors made of durable materials to keep bears away.

This can make the difference between bears entering your home or moving on because they can’t get through your door. Bears can also enter your house through your windows if they aren’t durable enough to keep them out. Windows with durable shutters and metal grates are often enough to keep bears at bay.  

Never leave your windows cracked open, as that makes it much easier for bears to get inside your house. It’s also a great idea to keep food away from your windows as bears may see it and get enticed. 

7. Remove Your Bird Feeders

Watching birds nibble on food may be fun, but bird feeders can attract bears. That’s especially true if the bird feeder is near your house or outside your window. Bird feeders don’t typically contain enough food to satisfy a bear.

Because of that, they may move on and attempt to break into your house to find more food. It’s a great idea to get rid of your bird feeders if you have seen bears on your property before. Weigh the pros and cons of having a bird feeder and decide for yourself. 

8. Electric Fences Are Invaluable

Installing an electric fence may be expensive, but the results are invaluable. An electric fence can scare bears enough to make them think twice about visiting your property. They can hurt the bear, but the shock isn’t fatal and it’s not enough to cause serious injuries.

You can expect to spend at least $1,700 to install an electric fence to repel bears from your house. The cost varies based on the size of your property and the materials you choose. Installation costs typically come out to $4 per linear foot, on average. 

Summing It Up

You must be aware of the mating, eating, and hibernation habits of local bears if you live in an area where they’re densely populated. It’s important to keep your trash cans in your house or garage and avoid leaving food scraps out, as bears aggressively pursue food. Avoid planting fruits and vegetables near your home and never let your dogs go outside unsupervised if you live near bears. 

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