Are friends texting you alerts that a black bear has been spotted in your neighborhood? Sightings are on the rise in New York, even though the state’s bear population has declined slightly. As city dwellers move to mountainous, remote areas for a better quality of life, human-ursine contact is inevitable. Plus, cellphone pictures create the illusion that black bears are everywhere. A cub used to be able to saunter across your backyard unnoticed—now the odds are that it will show up on Instagram!
The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) manages 7,000 black bears, the only indigenous bear species in New York. Of those, 90% are in the Adirondacks and Catskills, with the remaining 700 scattered through central-western New York and the Hudson Valley. According to the NYSDEC, hunting is an important management tool to “maintain bear populations at levels acceptable to the public.” New York hunters killed 1,318 black bears in 2022, 16 of those in Dutchess County.
Black bears are omnivorous: They consume insects, carrion, honey and occasionally fawn, but prefer berries and nuts, which aren’t available until summer. Hotter, drier weather has diminished this food supply, making human-created food an attractive target.
Bears are smart and curious, and they spend a lot of time foraging. Adult male bears roam up to 60 square miles—twice the area of Pine Plains—and their sense of smell is 60 times stronger than ours! Bears learn from experience, and pass that on to their cubs: Mothers will teach them to knock over garbage cans and raid bird feeders if that has yielded nourishment in the past. It’s our responsibility to keep human food sources safely stowed. Intentional or deliberate feeding of black bears, even cute little cubs, is illegal in New York.
Unlike brown bears and grizzlies, black bears are timid by nature and typically avoid humans. But they can become aggressive if they believe that our property is their territory. Some 60 people in North America have been killed by black bears over the past 120 years, including an Arizona man attacked outside his home last week. Here in New York, the NYSDEC mandates euthanizing any bear that has injured or attacked a human; it had 16 destroyed last year. Black bears exhibiting bad behavior even after being hit with rubber darts are tranquilized and relocated 35 to 60 miles away. This is not the best solution: The relocation process can result in the bear’s inadvertent injury or death. Bears have a strong homing instinct, and can travel over 100 miles to return to their native area.
Avoiding bear conflicts starts with prevention. Secure your garbage and recycling and never leave picnic leftovers outside. Keep compost in a bin or tumbler, and don’t add meats or sweets to the mix. Put bird feeders away from April through November. Store any pet food in a bear-proof container. Clean your grill thoroughly after every barbecue: Set it on high for several minutes to destroy food particles and odor, then scrub off the grease. Don’t forget your drip pan! If you’re a beekeeper, surround the hives with electric fencing.
Credit: Heather Emerich
What do you do if a bear is walking across your lawn? Leave it alone; this is not the time for selfies! Remember that your behavior can influence the outcome of a bear encounter. It is safe to scare it away by yelling, or making loud noises such as banging together pots and pans from the safety of your porch.
If you’re surprised by a bear, stay calm. Back up slowly and leave the area, especially if the bear hasn’t seen you. Try to make sure there’s an escape route for the bear. If it follows you, you must stand your ground. Identify yourself as human by speaking calmly. Never scream – you’ll sound like prey.
The bear may stand on its hind legs to better pick up your scent, and defensively growl, snap its jaws, woof, salivate or even yawn. In response, you should try to appear larger: raise your arms and if you have a jacket, hold it above your head. Stand on a stump or rock if available. Don’t climb a tree – black bears have sharp, curved claws that are perfect for climbing. And don’t try running away – the bear may chase you, and it can run at speeds of up to 30 mph.
Nor do you want to play dead. That’s a strategy more appropriate when dealing with browns or grizzlies. Move slowly away, sideways if possible, so you can keep an eye on the bear without tripping; it’s also less threatening to the bear.
Black bears will often charge then turn away at the last second as a bluff. Full-blown attacks happen only when the bear is protecting its turf, food or cubs. If escape is not possible, you must fight back for all you’re worth by kicking at it or using any object you can find—sticks, rocks, binoculars, backpacks. Focus your blows on the eyes and muzzle. Pepper spray is an effective deterrent, but must be kept handy.
The DEC encourages reporting black bear sightings in order to better follow their habits, locations and population numbers. Citizen Scientists can send in photos of bear, scat, claw marks and tracks. If you find a bear den, leave it undisturbed but report it immediately to your local wildlife office.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that black bears are vital members of New York’s ecosystem: Their foraging habits spread plant and berry seeds, and they help cull populations of deer and other prey species. Understanding their nature will protect you, your property and the bears themselves. Let’s enjoy these beautiful creatures from a distance.
See video of a local black bear sighting here.
Mary Jenkins recently retired after nearly 40 years as a family practice physician in New York state.