Maine Department of Inland, Fisheries & Wildlife - Spring has sprung and black bears are waking up
Take steps now to prevent black bears from coming to your backyard
The spring weather has finally arrived and wildlife is wasting no time shedding winter’s grip to enjoy the spring season!
For many of these animals, such as black bears, they have lost a significant amount of body weight and are on the move looking for food after emerging from their winter dens. While denning, black bears enter a state of torpor, slowing their metabolism and respiration, breathing only once per 15 to 45 seconds, and dropping their heart rate to 8-21 beats per minute. Even with a lowered metabolic rate, bears still lose significant body fat. Unlike true hibernators, bears don’t eat, drink, urinate, or defecate during this time.
Once spring comes and bears emerge from their dens, they are working to regulate their bodily functions slowly until normal activity ensues. Bears will seek out limited springtime foods such as insects, grasses, sedges, leftover hard mast from the fall, and other early spring vegetation. While natural foods are limited, bears may take the risk and wander into backyards in search of easily accessible food. It is especially important be proactive about securing and removing backyard attractants this time of year to prevent conflicts with black bears.
Take steps now to prevent black bears from coming to your yard:
More information
Download a BearWise At-Home Checklist (PDF)
Find an Animal Damage Control (ADC) Agent
What to do if you find injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife
