Being bear aware not only protects your home and property, it can save a bear’s life.
“Every time a bear gets a treat — a bird feeder, a hummingbird feeder, or trash — it teaches the bear that people mean food,” There are an estimated 5,000-6,000 black bears in New Mexico. They are not aggressive by nature (although they can be when they feel threatened).
The following lists provide advice from experts about how to be bear aware.
• Keep garbage in a well-secured location, and only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
• Keep garage doors closed. Do not leave pet food or stock feed outside.
• Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
• Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
• Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
• Clean the grill after each use, and clean up thoroughly after cookouts.
• If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
• Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
• Keep the bottom-floor windows of your house closed when you are not at home.
• Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
• When car camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
• Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
• When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite and don’t bring any food into your tent.
• Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.
• Keep chickens, bees and livestock in a fully covered enclosure,especially at night.
• Don’t store livestock feed outside.