Keep bear attractants out of reach of hungry bruins

Keep bear attractants out of reach of hungry bruins

Published 5:00 am Tuesday, September 15, 2026

It’s the time of year when bears are in their extreme eating mode as they fatten up for winter, meaning that people need to be bear aware and manage attractants in their yards.

Bears need approximately 20,000 calories a day to fatten up for their winter hibernation, and the need to consume that many daily calories can sometimes drive conflict behaviour if there is a lack of natural foods.

This might be more of an issue than usual this year in some parts of the region, because of this summer’s wildfires. Not only have the fires destroyed animals’ habitats, they will also have impacted many of the food sources that bears and other wildlife depend on in the run-up to winter.

Berries, huckleberries, any berry-producing plant, nuts, and fish are very important for bears. However, if they get a high-calorie reward in a community from unsecured garbage, fruit trees, or even birdseed, they are going to be around. Wildlife is naturally wary of humans, but if they receive the reward, they will consider coming back for more.

Bears naturally become more active at night when people are asleep, so that’s when they often come into communities looking for food, as there is less risk. If they become more comfortable and human-habituated, they can start coming around in the daytime, which can lead to conflict.

Anyone who sees a bear in their community should call the Conservation Officer Service (1-877-952-7277) and report it.

There are a few ways to reduce the potential for human-bear conflict. These include:

– Clear windfall fruit: If you have fruit trees in your yard, make sure to clear up any windfalls as soon as possible. If you consistently have too much fruit, consider pruning, or even removing, fruit trees in the spring.

– Manage pet food: When you bring your dog in for the night, make sure to bring in any food you put outside for them.

– Clean the barbecue: Grease traps underneath barbecues have an irresistible aroma for bears, which have an amazing sense of smell. Make sure to keep them emptied.

– Keep garbage safe: Most household garbage cans aren’t bear-proof, so don’t put the bins out until the morning of collection.

– Manage compost: Make sure to store or manage your compost so that bears can’t access it.

– (Don’t) feed the birds: There is still plenty of natural food around for birds, so hold off on putting out feeders filled with seed until bears are safely in hibernation. Birdseed is high in calories, making it an attractive food source for bruins looking to pile on the pounds before their big sleep.