By Dan Groebner, AZGFD

It’s that time of the year again in the White Mountains. Hungry black bears and their cubs are scrounging for anything they can find to satisfy their hunger after a long winter fast. The big difference this year is the lack of normal moisture to grow the plants and bugs and berries that they depend on.

Although bears can certainly act as predators on deer fawns and elk calves, this impact is usually short-lived during the early summer months when their prey is most vulnerable. So, our normally dry spring that followed an exceptionally dry winter in most areas has forced many bears to look for free handouts from urbanized areas.

Interactions between bears and humans are on the increase this year and have occurred from Forest Lakes to Alpine, with some bears removed after showing aggressive behaviors or getting acclimated to human provided food. Some bears can be translocated far away from where they originally got into trouble, but many of these bears home back to their capture site within a few weeks and begin the nuisance or dangerous behaviors all over again.

Unfortunately, many bears have to be euthanized because they got used to people feeding them and often become aggressive with other people if they are not fed. Hungry bears have broken through doors and windows to get food within a house. Public safety is a priority when dealing with human/bear encounters.

The unfortunate consequences of humans providing food to bears gave rise to a popular bumper sticker that reads: “A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear!”

To help minimize the chance of having a bad bear encounter, try these Top Ten Tips:

1. Don’t let the bears or ravens get to your garbage by storing it in a garage or shed between pickup days.

2. When taking walks at night, be aware of your surroundings. Always use a light (headlamps work great) and make lots of conversation with your dog or yourself to alert bears as well as skunks and raccoons.

3. Don’t put out your garbage receptacle until the morning of collection, if possible.

4. Never camp in a tent with any food to avoid bear visits, or even store it there as rodents will find it.

5. If you encounter a bear, do not run or make loud noises, and try to calmly and slowly back away, facing the bear in your best impression of a brave human not afraid of a little ole bear.

6. Garbage can lids can be secured with a strap or other locking mechanism between pickup days if it cannot be stored in a garage.

7. Either hang your hummingbird and bird feeders out of reach of bears or remove them temporarily if a bear is in the area.

8. When camping, some bears may be acclimated to being fed by other people, so be prepared for bold bears with bear spray and other self-protection methods.

9. Never leave dog or cat food outside uneaten unless you’re trying to invite bears and even wild rodents, which are attractive food items for snakes and foxes.

10. And just to be sure, secure your garbage so bears don’t have access and you can solve 90% of your bear problems!!