Black Bear problems in the Town of Hunter

[dave]

Several years ago, a Town of Hunter resident insisted upon feeding the black bears. When this person could not feed the bears the way the bears wanted to be feed, the bears started to break into homes and terrorizing the residents. This led to the DEC shooting four bears. When the person refused to stop feeding the bears, the DEC was forced to pass laws to outlaw intentional and unintentional feeding of bears.

Now we have learned that this person is feeding the bears again. The DEC has issued a warning, but that does not seem to be working. Black bears are also starting to show up in Tannersville in congested areas looking for handouts from people in the village. It is important to remember that a Fed bear is a dead bear. Once bears learn that people have food they will never stop demanding food from humans. This can lead to a dangerous attack on hikers and local citizens.

Update: The mother had to be shot by the DEC because this person keeps feeding them. Her 3 cubs are now with Friends of the Feathered and Furry Wildlife in Hunter NY.

[bikenhike]

Holly crap! This women is feeding them again? Didn't we pass some laws just because of her?

I heard that some the bears are coming around Selena's Diner in Tannersville.

[LJ2484]

Maybe I'm wrong here but if this woman has been found by the DEC to be feeding bears in the past why are they giving her a warning? Shouldn't this work like being a repeat offender of any crime where there are no free passes anymore? This woman is a horrible human being. Take your pick: people attacked by bears or bears being put down because a thoughtless and careless individual decided to feed them. Either way it's a tragedy in my book.

[mike]

Here are a few comments from the rehabber in Hunter:

3 more cubs admitted tonight! Mom euthanized becau... - 3 more cubs admitted tonight! Mom euthanized because neighbors bear feeding obsession!

Please people! This is a daily nightmare of mine! This is why I preach and check dumpsters and pick up other peoples garbage!! THESE BABIES can't be moved...They need to be returned next year at 100 or so pounds to the county of capture if we will be allowed to rehab them. Help stop the habituating and intentional feedings. I know I upset some of you..I need u to be upset..report your neighbors .even if only to me ! Please take a stand for them as well as yourselves. These large animals will go and take what others bring them on a day the feeders don't feed! There is no other way. We can NOT relocate a habituated bear..and zoo capture of an adult wild animal is the cruelest punishment of all! If u have questions or have anything u need to discuss please call 518-965-1864 or send an email/. All info will remain confidential


Picture of cubs at the rehabber in Hunter NY

[Jon]

So although it may be heartbreaking to shoot 1 or 2 bears because they become "habituated" to food, NY state and NJ view bears as animals which need to have populations controlled, and legally allow shooting them. Most of these bears didn't attack anyone, and weren't rummaging through garbage in Hunter. They were just fat and happen to be outside during hunting season. Maybe this is why DEC doesn't really care about people feeding the bears. So what if they have to shoot 1 animal needlessly, while they licences hunters to kill thousands in NY state...They probably enjoy the revenue of constantly fining and ticketing someone. Eventually they might arrest the people feeding the bears, but until someone gets killed I doubt it.

NY 2011 "record" Harvests of 1,258 bears:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/80755.html

"Hunters in southeastern New York harvested 630 bears in 2011, besting the previous record of 520 set in 2008. This was due in part to a new rule that expanded bear hunting in eastern New York State to include all or portions of seven new counties in eastern New York from Rockland and Westchester north to Washington beginning in 2011. Hunters took 50 bears from this new area, including 18 bears taken in Washington County, 11 in Rensselaer County, 10 in Columbia County, seven in Dutchess County, two in Putnam County and two in Rockland County. Yet even without these additional bears, take in the rest of the southeastern region exceeded previous record levels, reflecting a 25-year trend of generally increasing bear harvests in this region."


p.s. Bear pics

Here's a young guy who was very interested in the campground I was staying at. He'll probably be shot when he gets big enough to scare the DEC staff. Until now he's a nuisance and tears apart campsites


This guy sits along the Appalachian Trail and mugs hikers for thier trail snacks. Seriously I went to the spot he was sitting and he had gotten a nature valley bar from someone. He'll probably be shot when he gets large enough cause he's a bear, and he lives in New Jersey

[mike]

The problem with feeding bears near houses, is that the bears soon discover that food from humans comes from inside houses. Once they discover this, the bears start breaking into house and they will tear up the house and terrorize the people inside the house. In these cases, it is easy to scare both humans and the bears. Especially if a bear gets cornered. That is when it is possible for someone to get killed. Two years ago, bears were breaking into houses in the Town of Hunter. Did quite a bit of damage. The occupants were thoroughly scared.

Out in the wild, black bears are fairly docile. But, if provoked, they can be very dangerous. If the bears learn that humans have food, they will demand food from humans every time they see one. This is why it is so important that people don't feed bears.

Unfortunately most DEC campgrounds are not well designed. And, it seems that bear problems exist in most DEC campgrounds. When campers are cooking, the smell floats into the tents. This can cause bears to think that there is food in the tents, and they can rip into the tents. If a bear becomes too aggressive in the campgrounds, the DEC would end up shooting the bear. Out in Glacier National Park, it is forbidden to cook next to your tent. And, they recommend that you change your cloths afterwards too. You also have to hang your gear on bear-proof poles.

[Jon]

by us in NJ they had to give bear garbage cans out to all the residents up the mountain in west milford cause the kids would be walking to school and encounter bears in the early morning digging through the neighborhood trash. I think bears already know that humans = food.

[mtnclimber]

Last weekend, bears outside of Woodstock NY broke into a house 4 times while the owners were out. The DEC gave the homeowners bear spray to defend themselves if the bears come back while they are home. Most likely, this mother bear will be shot too. You can read about it, and see pictures here and here