Preparing property for bear denning season
Some bears have already begun denning.
Donated photo
Slumber time for black bears is quickly approaching, and in some cases, already happening. Now is the time to start bear-proofing residential and commercial properties to discourage winter denning.
Black bears have been known to den in surprising places: under decks and storage sheds, crawl spaces, vacant homes and the brush or debris pile in the yard.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission advises the public to follow proven BearWise methods to discourage bears from choosing a location to den for the winter around your home or commercial property:
• Close and lock pet doors, sheds, root cellars and outbuildings.
• Check under porches and decks for areas and openings where bears might curl up. Barricade openings as best as you can, such as by installing plywood or fencing.
• Don’t leave garbage, bird seed or feeders, or food meant for deer or squirrels where bears can access it.
• Have a vacant home or cabin? Make sure to lock all ground level windows and doors and remove all foods and odors that could attract bears.
• Black bears in North Carolina can start denning as early as October or as late as February, with some bears not denning at all. There are several factors that contribute to when bears start denning. The main factor is food availability, which can be both natural foods and human-provided foods.
NCWRC staff have experienced an increase in bears denning under houses and decks because of increasing development, as well as increases in human and bear populations. If a bear den is discovered in a populated area, people can co-exist through the denning season, which runs from October through April.
“Homeowners can safely coexist with denning bears until they leave in the spring,” said Malzahn. “Bears are only interested in getting their winter rest or, if it’s a female, caring for her cubs. Denning bears are not interested in engaging with people. Disturbances by people or pets, however, may cause a female to abandon her cubs. So that needs to be considered before making the decision to address a denning bear.”
If a resident discovers a den, NCWRC advises to call the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 866.318.2401, or contact their local district wildlife biologist for further guidance.
In spring, once bears have left their den and become more active, home and business owners should evaluate their property, as bears search for potential den sites from spring through fall.
(bearwise.org offers instructions for removing or securing potential den sites on your property.)
