Recent bear activity prompted the authorities into asking owners to takes down their bird feeder until the 1st of December.
New Hampshire’s Fish and Game Department has urged all house owners to take down their bird feeders due to bears . As the bird season continues until the end of March, the authorities cautioned all bird lover that it is best to put their feeders aside until the 1st of December.
In a recent press statement, Andrew Timmins, the acting director of the Bear Project, New Hampshire’s Fish and Game’s bear management initiative, recommended that bird lovers should put their bird feeders outside for the time being, due to increased bear activity.
Timmins said that bears are expected do come down from their den very soon and to start looking for food. The leader of the project explained that the bear’ early emergence is because the last year’s winter has been mild and that the warm temperatures in the last weeks prompts many animals, bears included, to become active.
As a precautionary measure, the scientists urged all bird lovers to put away their makeshift bird feeders until the first of December.
Why should we put away our bird feeders?
Because no one like to see a bear in his backyard, that’s for sure. Although they are majestic creatures, being mauled by a bear isn’t a very pleasant sensation. Timmins said that the reason New Hampshire is urging all owners to take down their bird feeder is because bear sightings have become more frequent over the past weeks.
And, as we know, once a bear wakes up from its winter sleep, the first thing on its agenda is to eat. And, might we add, that they’re pretty hungry once they wake up. Keeping up your birds feeders during this season can be potentially dangerous because it can attract hungry bears.
And once a bear finds food in one place, it will undoubtedly return for a second and maybe even a third meal. Moreover, the scientists also added that bears are not that solitary after all, which means that they will probably bring their friends and family for dinner.
Timmins explained that the reason the bears are so attracted to the bird feeders is because of sunflower seeds. When a bear emerges from its den, it will start seeking food immediately. However, the food found by a bear during spring and winter offers carbohydrates at the expense of proteins and fat.
As it happens, sunflower seeds are packed with fat and protein, which makes them an ideal first course. Although the number of conflicts between bears and humans has decreased, the authorities are taking all the steps necessary to prevent any further incidents.
Photo credits:wikipedia
