Local Bears Are Waking Up And Searching For Food

Across Minnesota, there’s a quiet shift happening right now. The snow is melting, the days are getting longer, and bears are waking up!

After months of hibernation, they're going to be really hungry. They’re going to be following their noses, looking for the easiest meal they can find, which means, if you live out in the country, there’s a good chance they’re heading closer to your home than you might think.

WHERE ARE THE BEARS?

Bears aren't just in rural communities anymore, so you may want to take in some advice about how NOT to invite a bear into your backyard.

BEARS ARE GETTING SMARTER

You’ve probably heard it or said it yourself. “Yep… saw tracks this morning.” “Something got into the trash last night.” As a matter of fact, my Dad's trash cans were tipped over when I visited him on Sunday. Was it a bear? Quite possibly. It’s almost a spring tradition.

But here’s what’s changed. Bears are getting smarter and smarter about where to find food. And once they find it, they remember that spot. Your yard might just be their first stop for the season.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

It might be time to take a look around your backyard. How did you leave everything before winter came?

• Is there a grill that maybe hasn’t been cleaned since the last time you used it?
• Have you brought the trash cans back outside after months of storing them in the garage?
• Are you getting ready to fill your Bird feeders, or put some of them back up that you took down before winter?

OTHER STORIES: MN FrogWatch Lets Families Become Backyard Scientists

To us, we're just getting ready to spend more time outside. We can't wait! But...to a bear just waking up? Your garbage cans, bird feeders, and grills might be the first easy meal your sleeping bear has had in months.

SPRING CLEANUP CAN ATTRACT THE WRONG KIND OF ATTENTION

There are also a lot of folks starting to clean out their garages and sheds. Even cleaning out their cars, throwing away all those fast food bags that have been piling up in the backseat for months.

Now, if all that garbage ends up sitting outside, even briefly, it creates strong smells that travel, and a hungry bear doesn’t need much of a reason to investigate.

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FEEDING THE DOG OUTSIDE

There are a lot of people who feed their dogs outside. But leaving food out just for a bit could be all that a bear needs to be lured into your space. According to the Minnesota DNR, Spring is exactly when these things matter most, because this is when bears are figuring out their food routes for the season. They've put together a BearWise At Home Checklist for you.

RURAL MINNESOTANS ALREADY KNOW THIS

If you've lived in the country for a while, you probably already understand this, so it's not something that people really talk about that much. But if you are new to a country setting, if a bear finds food at your place in the spring, there’s a good chance it’ll keep coming back all summer, and once that pattern starts, it’s hard to break.

YOU DON'T WANT A 'DEAD BEAR'

People often say, "A fed bear is a dead bear." If a bear starts getting too comfortable around people, its life WILL BE in danger. Drawing a bear into your yard is NOT a good idea.

So here are some simple things to keep top of mind as you prepare for warmer weather.

Ask yourself:

• What around my home smells like food right now?
• Is the grill clean?
• Are the trash cans secure?
• Is birdseed spilling onto the ground?
• Is pet food ever left outside?

These might seem like small things, but they add up fast, especially to something with a powerful nose and an empty stomach.

THE BOTTOM LINE

In rural Minnesota, spring doesn’t just mean nicer weather; it means bears are back. Whether they stop by your place or not often comes down to something simple: Are you accidentally inviting them in?