Idaho Fish and Game urges caution and protection measures
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) says spring has arrived, and bears are coming out of hibernation. Black bears living in south-central Idaho and other parts of the state are waking up, and they will be hungry.
After spending the winter months hibernating, black bears will start looking for food and might be attracted to your neighborhood. IDFG says it is not too early for all Wood River Valley and other Idaho residents to do their part to ensure that bears and all wildlife do not find a food reward around your house.
A bear will continue to walk across your yard or deck when it learns that behavior is okay. The bear learns people are harmless and daily walks around your house are acceptable and potentially rewarding if they find food.
If you have a bear around your house or in your neighborhood, and, if it can be done safely, immediate action is necessary to haze the bear to let it know it is not welcome. This can be done by loud yelling, clapping your hands, banging on pots and pans or anything else to scare it away.
A bear that developed a repeated habit of searching out and acquiring food from human sources is a threat to public safety and will be trapped or darted with an anesthetizing drug and then euthanized.
IDFG says relocating a food-habituated bear is not an option because it often returns to where it was trapped and knows food will be there. Moving this bear might transfer the problem to another community or campground in the backcountry.
- There are simple things everyone can do to keep everyone safe and bears roaming the mountains:
- Use a bear-resistant garbage container where possible.
- Do not put your garbage out until the morning of pickup, and until then, keep your garbage in a secure location, like a garage.
- Birds do not need bird feeders to survive during the summer months because of natural food sources, and residents are encouraged to take them down during this time.
- Do not leave pet or livestock food outside where a bear can find it.
- Put an electric fence wire around chicken coops and bee hives.
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