Be “Bear Aware” As Black Bears Think It’s Spring – Dave’s Diary

The lack of winter weather has Washington’s black bears coming out of their dens about a month earlier than usual.

Western Wildlife Outreach, a nonprofit that conducts outreach programs on living safely with bears  wants to remind Washington residents who go into the woods to be “bear aware”--especially since for most bears, their first thought upon leaving their dens will be finding food.

The experts urge people in bear country to know how to manage bear attractants. Bears travel by their noses in search of food. Western Wildlife Outreach recommends the use of bear-resistant garbage containers and advise that the cans should be put out on the morning of pick up, not the night before.

Note to self: leave food scented cologne at home!

They also suggest you feed pets indoors whenever possible, and don’t leave food for pets or livestock in areas accessible to bears.  Beehives are another prime target for bears, and are best protected behind an electric fence.

When camping or hiking keep food in bear resistant containers and away from campsites and consider carrying bear spray in areas of high bear use.