Solutions to bear conflict

Section Topics

Electric fences

Black bears are an integral part of life in the Adirondacks. They are a thrill to see at a distance but can quickly become a concern and a nuisance when they show an interest in our food, garbage or other property. Here are some helpful tips for living in or visiting bear country that will allow bears and humans to coexist peacefully.

Tips for minimizing conflict with bears while camping in the backcountry
Tips for minimizing conflict with bears while staying at a road-side campground
Tips for minimizing conflict with bears near your home, camp, or business

Backcountry tips

Good hiking and camping etiquette:

Keep a clean organized camp. Food and garbage odors can attract bears from a considerable distance.

Make sure that you know where all of your food is and store it properly and a safe distance from your camp.

When camping, make use of bear canisters.
Learn about the natural, seasonal bear foods in your camping area and try to avoid disturbing areas where they may be feeding.
Never approach bears and don’t give them a reason to approach you!

Tips for staying at road-side campgrounds

Many state run campgrounds offer bear proof lockers and secured recycling centers. Check with the campground manager for specific food storage guidelines.

General tips:

Never leave food, garbage, coolers or dirty dishes unattended at your campsite.
Store food and garbage in your car and out of site. Keep the windows shut and food and coolers out of sight.
Use a campsite provided food storage unit where provided such as food lockers.
Clean up immediately after meals. Keep pots and pans, grills, cooking utensils and washbasins clean after each use. Do not wash dishes under the water faucets.
Do not place food scraps, grease, garbage, diapers, cans, bottles, or other garbage in the fireplace. Burning food scraps makes the smell more attractive to bears.
Keep your campsite clean. Take all garbage and recyclables to the recycling center each day.
Never bring any food, garbage, coolers, or odorous item in your tent including toothpaste, soaps, and candy wrappers.

Tips for your home, camp, or business

The key to keeping bears out of your yard or away from your camp or business is to remove the attractant. An attractant is any food or odor that attract bears--for example, things like garbage, birdfeeders, outside grills, garbage, fruit trees, pet foods, etc. By preventing bear encounters, you will avoid rewarding the bear with food and help break the cycle of associating that reward with humans.

At home or camp:

Do not leave human food or garbage outside.

Store garbage securely indoors, not on a porch, or use bear-resistant garbage cans.
Do not burn garbage. Burning garbage makes it more attractive to bears.
Clean garbage cans frequently with ammonia, bleach, or Lysol.
Place unattractive smells in your garbage can to mask food odors such as camphor discs, mothball, air fresheners, or Lysol and ammonia-soaked rags.
Clean up any odorous scraps or items from your yard or lake-front area such as fish carcasses, grease, fat, or dirty diapers.
If you have garbage pick up service, put garbage at the curb the morning of pick up, not the night before.
Keep barbeque grills clean and free from grease. Turn them on high for a few minutes after cooking. Keep them inside, if possible.
Clean barbeque pits and grills if you leave them outside. Use aluminum foil to cook on or clean grills with ammonia cleaner.
Surround bee hives and compost bins with electric fencing
Pick fruit from trees on your property regularly and clear rotting fruit from the ground around trees.
Bird feeders are a strong attractant for bears, even if they cannot reach it. Feed the birds in the winter months only.
Clean old refrigerators or coolers that are left outside.
Turn off kitchen exhaust fans that vent to the outside when not in use. Make sure the vent screen is cleaned regularly.
Do not feed family pets outside. An empty dish can attract a bear.
If you have a bear problem, leave outdoor lights on all night.
Do not try to attract ANY wildlife with food including raccoons, squirrels, or deer.

Around your business:

Use bear resistant dumpsters or install an electric fence around your dumpster.
Discourage visitors or residents from feeding bears in the community.
Never leave food or garbage outside unsecured.

Links to manufacturers of bear-resistant trash cans and dumpsters

Bear Proof Containers
Bear Proof Inc
Bear Saver
Critter Can
UnBearAble Bins

More BBEAR Resources

BBEAR BBEAR home
Black Learn about black bear natural history
Bear Learn about black bear encounters and safety
Education Find out more about the causes of human-bear conflict
Awareness Ways you can be part of the solution (top of page)
Research Learn more about WCS' research efforts on bears

More on solutions to conflict: electric fence exclusions

Go straight to information about bear-resistant food canisters or locations where you can rent canisters.

The DEC maintains pages about black bears on their website.