15 Tips To Help Bearproof Your Property

Practical suggestions to help deter bears from seeking food on your property

Bearicuda Inc., a leader in bear and animal resistant cans and enclosures knows the importance in educating residents of bear-populated areas to be bear-aware. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) recently published an article reminding everyone to stay alert and aware of bears in your community. If you live in or spend time in bear country, it is essential for you to be bear aware. CPW emphasizes how important it is to bearproof your property and vehicles when living in or traveling to bear country.

Not only will bear-proofing your home and property, (including cars and campers) keep you and your family safer but it will also help keep bears wild. Bears belong in their natural habitat, search for food there rather than going into residential areas. By being proactive and not making it easy and appealing for bears to visit your property, you'll be helping to prevent conflicts between humans and bears.

Bear-proofing your property is essential during the summer months as bears are actively foraging for food, especially as fall approaches. Black bears are naturally smart and curious animals, always looking for the next meal that requires the least amount of effort. People can prevent conflicts with bears and other wildlife, by following the proper precautions to help keep your property, your neighborhood, and our bear population safe.

Once bears find food, they will keep coming back. Foods draw bears close to neighborhoods, but trash and other attractants, such as bird feeders, keep them there. Bears look for easily accessible human food, garbage, pet food and other attractants available in cars, garages, and houses where they can get a meal. It's important for people to understand when they allow bears access to these attractants, a bear's instinctive drive to eat can overcome its fear of humans.

In the summer bears typically forage for insects, leaves, and flowers of broad-leafed plants but all it takes is one careless person to encourage a bear to get into a neighbor?s home, car or trash can. Bearicuda Inc is unique in that not only do we sell bearproof and bear-resistant trash cansand enclosures but we are also strong believers in education. Educating residents who live in bear populated areas.

Keep Bears Out

1. Close and lock all bear-accessible windows and doors when you leave the house, and at night before you go to bed.
2. Install sturdy grates or bars on windows if you must leave them open.
3. Keep car doors and windows closed and locked if you park outside. Make sure there?s nothing with an odor in your vehicle, including candy, gum, air fresheners, trash, lotions and lip balms.
4. Close and lock garage doors and windows at night and when you?re not home; garage doors should be down if you are home but not outside.
5. Install extra-sturdy doors if you have a freezer, refrigerator, pet food, birdseed, or other attractants stored in your garage.
6. Remove any tree limbs that might provide access to upper-level decks and windows.
7. Replace exterior lever-style door handles with good quality round door knobs that bears can?t pull or push open.

Get Rid of Attractants

1. Don?t leave trash out overnight unless it?s in a bear-proof enclosure or container. Be sure to research all local ordinances and regulations when vacationing.
2. Don?t store food of any kind in an unlocked garage, flimsy shed or on or under your deck.
3. Don?t leave anything with an odor outside, near open windows or in your vehicle, even if you?re home. That includes scented candles, air fresheners, lip balms and lotions.
4. Only feed birds when bears are hibernating. Birds have plenty of natural foods this time of year.

Teach Bears They?re Not Welcome

1. If a bear comes close to your home, scare it away. Loud noises like a firm yell, clapping your hands, banging on pots and pans or blowing an air horn sends most bears running.
2. Utilize electric fencing, unwelcome mats and scent deterrents like ammonia to teach bears that your property is not bear-friendly.
3. If a bear enters your home, open doors and windows and ensure it can leave the same way it got in. Don?t approach the bear or block escape routes.
4. Never approach a bear. If a bear won?t leave your area, call your local CPW office. If a bear presents an immediate threat to human safety, call 911.

"Adjusting your habits to living with wildlife takes a little effort at first, but over time it becomes a better way to live. When you keep your property bear-proof, you're making your homes and neighborhoods a safer place for yourself and for bears. These actions will also help lessen conflicts with other wildlife such as skunks, raccoons, and ravens," said  J Wenum, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has several resources available that can help you find the right methods for protecting your home and property while bears are active. For additional information, see our Living with Bears page or visit cpw.state.co.us.

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