Hungry Bears on the Move

Male cellophane bee, Colletes inaequalis, by Heather Holm.

As spring thaw begins, bears will emerge from their winter dens in search of food.

Males are usually the first to emerge (females with cubs stay put longer) and will be headed to wet areas that green up early (such as spring seeps, rivers, and streams). Bears will find their first sustenance in green skunk cabbage and other emerging herbaceous vegetation. 

Your Forest Habitat

Hungry bears will cover a lot of ground in search of foods, and can be particularly attracted to bird feeders in spring and early summer. Although it may be exciting or entertaining to see bears close to our homes, it is an unnatural and dangerous situation for both bears and humans. 

To avoid bear-human conflicts: bring bird seed and suet indoors as soon as the snow melts and spring and/or spring thaw begins. Bear biologists used to advise to “bring the bird feeders in by April 1st” but that is no longer a reliable guideline. Bear behavior is changing with milder winter conditions coupled with the growing availability of food sources at the wildlife-human interface. In plain terms, that last part simply means that there is more bird seed, livestock feed, chickens, grill grease, household trash, and other sources of high density calories across our increasingly developed landscapes. In our changing climate, please be mindful that bears may wake up in a warm spell to wander around in search of food and secure your food.

“If it’s generally “wintery” out for an extended period of time, with consistent snow on the ground and temperatures at or below freezing, you can keep your birdfeeder out.””
— Vermont Fish & Wildlife Dept.

Learn more about how you can keep yourself safe, while keeping bears wild and healthy:

Living with Black Bears

I hope you enjoyed this Phenology Note!

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#ThePersonalEcologistI partner with eco-minded landowners to create thriving wildlife habitats in their backyards, gardens, fields and farms, woods or campuses - at any scale.I have 25 years of experience in my field, and a lifelong commitment to wi…

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I co-create biodiverse habitats with eco-minded stewards throughout the Northeast - at any scale.

I have 30 years of experience and a lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation.

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Deborah Perkins