New Hampshire Fish and Game Says People Are Causing Surge of Bear Encounters

Bears Are Following Campers in New Hampshire

Recently, there has been a surge of bear sightings according to NBC10 Boston.  New Hampshire Fish and Game are warning New Hampshire residents to be responsible to avoid a "situation."

New Hampshire Residents and Visitors Are the Problem

One of the reasons why bears keep coming around is because they are getting food tossed at or left out for them.  I mean, I get it.  If I see a bear and I had a hamburger in my hand, that hamburger is getting tossed to the bear.  Hi.  I'm the problem.  It's me.

According to NH Fish and Game, when bears come around humans, they usually smell them and get out of their way.  However, if they know they will get a food reward, they will "beg" for food, or manipulate humans to get what they want.

As tempting as it is to thrown the hamburger, (see above) NH Fish and Game cites a few things you should do to keep bears away:

• Secure your garbage container.  If you have to keep it outside, consider getting a lid with locks.
• Never put meat and old pet food in the garbage.
• Clean the grille after every use.  This one is a total pain the buttocks.  Seriously.  I have a Weber grille, and I BEARly use the thing because it's a pain to clean.  Easier to grille inside.
• And lastly, DON'T FEED THE BEARS.

How many cartoons did we grow up with that helped us learn that lesson?  I can think of two off the top of my head.  The first one was Winnie the Pooh, when Rabbit was trying to get him to lose weight, and Yogi Bear, when he was arrested for stealing food.  There were signs all over Yellowstone, saying "Don't Feed the Bears."

I have to admit, I never liked the Forest Ranger.  He seemed mad all the time at Yogi and Boo Boo.

Remember a few years ago when a bear took a nap in a tree in a very populated area of Manchester?

BONUS TIP:  Bears Love New Hampshire Chickens

Oh, and if you want to raise your own chickens for the poultry and eggs, you might want to reconsider.  Chickens and the eggs are super tasty for bears, according to bearwise.org.  

Bears are just being bears.  You can't really blame them for trying to find food.  We do it all the time.  It's just much easier for humans because we have the grocery store.  In order to prevent them from attacking your chickens, however, you might want to consider an electric fence.  The NH Fish and Game loans out hundreds of them every year in an effort to help convince the owner to invest in them after they witness how effective they are.