About Black Bears

While hearing about bear signings can be scary, please remember that as humans build out more, we are taking away from the places where bears can live — they have had to adapt to having humans around.

Black bears are generally shy around people, but they may approach our dwellings if they are looking for food. If they do find food, they could come back, and even get used to humans. Becoming comfortable around humans is extremely dangerous for wildlife, so it is important to do everything we can to prevent that from happening. Thanks to a generous grant from the Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation, the MSPCA is proud to be able to offer informational pamphlets on avoiding conflicts with bears AT NO CHARGE to any Massachusetts municipality. Request pamphlets.

BLACK BEARS IN MASSACHUSETTS

The bears you encounter in Massachusetts are black bears, the most common of the three bear types that live in North America (the others being brown bears and polar bears). Black bears grow to about five feet tall and can weigh 100 to 600 pounds.

Approximately 80 to 85% of a black bear’s diet is plant material, while the remaining 15% is made up of animal protein, making them omnivorous. Black bears will eat almost anything, such as grubs, frogs, fish, snakes, ants, grasses, nuts, and berries. Bears may forage up to 20 hours a day during autumn, increasing their body weight by 35% in preparation for winter. During this time they enter “hyperphagia,” which translates to “excessive eating.”

Black bears enter their dens to hibernate between early November and mid-December. For about 100 days the bears will not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. Their fat stores provide them with nutrients and water, and bears typically lose about 30% of their weight during hibernation.

Black bears live solitary lives except when they are courting mates and rearing cubs. Cubs are usually born in the spring and stay with their mothers until they are about 2 years old. They become sexually mature at about age 3 but usually don’t breed until age 5.

POSSIBLE CONFLICTS & SOLUTIONS

Although black bears have historically shied away from humans, they may wander onto human-inhabited property, primarily looking for food.

Take these steps to keep black bears away from your property:

• Eliminate all food sources and attractants from your yard. Secure open compost piles, clean and put away grills, and bring in all pet food remnants and containers if companion animals are fed outside.
• Remove all birdfeeders. “Birdfeeder” is a misnomer. The more accurate term is “wildlife feeder.” Possums, skunks, groundhogs, bears, and more all partake in what birdfeeders have to offer. And because small furbearing mammals are prey animals for mesocarnivores, birdfeeders attract coyotes to your yard as well.
• Store garbage in a shed or garage between garbage collection days. Put out garbage the morning of garbage collection day rather than the night before.
• Firmly secure your garbage containers with bungee cords or purchase bear-proof garbage containers.
• Install motion light sensors and use loud radios to scare bears away.
• For advice specific to protecting bees and chickens, see MassWildlife’s website.

If you encounter a black bear:

• Stay calm and never approach the bear, but keep your eyes on them and hold your ground. This may be all that is necessary to de-escalate the situation.
• Wave your arms and appear as big as possible.
• Make noise by banging objects or by shouting. Do not imitate a bear’s growl or other animal noises.
• If all else fails, throw things at the bear to get the animal to move on.
• In the unlikely event that the bear bluff charges, experts advise standing still since the bear usually uses this bluff charge as a warning before turning and moving off. If in the extremely rare case you are attacked by a black bear, fight back.

(Please note: These tips are for encounters with black bears only. If you are traveling in areas where other types of bears may be present, seek information and advice about how to handle bear encounters in those regions.)

PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS

As with all mammals, bears can contract and transmit rabies.