AR-News: FW: Bird feeders lure bears

[jim robertson]

>Bird feeders lure bears
>
>By JEFF GEARINO
>Southwest Wyoming bureau Monday, June 28, 2004
>
>
>             A young female bear feasts on the contents of a bird feeder at 
>a
>home near Jackson. The bear was later killed by state officials because it
>had become dangerously accustomed to being around people. Photo courtesy of
>Wyoming Game and Fish.
>
>GREEN RIVER -- Bird feeders and garbage are tempting targets for hungry
>bears in residential areas of Jackson, Wyoming Game and Fish Department
>officials say.
>
>After more than two weeks and several phone calls regarding a nuisance 
>black
>bear, agency biologists killed a sub-adult female black bear just west of
>Wilson on Monday, Game and Fish Bear Management Officer Eric Shorma said.
>
>Shorma said the department received several reports of the bear getting 
>into
>bird feeders and garbage over the past few weeks. He said the bear was
>easily identifiable because it was missing hair on its back.
>
>"Unfortunately, this bear was very habituated and not afraid of people,"
>Shorma said.
>
>"The fact that it was in poor health was also a factor in the decision to
>put the animal down," he said. "It was obvious this bear was going to
>continue to seek out food in residential areas."
>
>Shorma said the department is receiving an increasing number of calls about
>bears.
>
>He said biologists have already dealt with five nuisance bears in the
>Jackson area this summer. Two of the bears were captured and relocated.
>
>The department has instituted a wildlife feeding ban in Teton County, 
>making
>it illegal to have bear attractants -- such as bird feeders and garbage --
>available to bears.
>
>Shorma said it's legal to feed birds, but residents must make sure the
>feeders are unavailable to bears and other wildlife.
>
>"Whether there's an ordinance or not, we should be vigilant about keeping
>our property free of potential bear attractants," he said. "We're fortunate
>to live in a place with abundant wildlife ... but we need to remember with
>that comes a responsibility to live compatibly with the wildlife."
>
>Common bear attractants include garbage, compost piles, bird feeders,
>barbecue grills and pet food, among others.
>
>Shorma stressed the importance of contacting the local Game and Fish office
>as soon as a bear causes problems. That ensures the best chance the bear 
>can
>be relocated, he said.
>
>