Bear-Proof Your Home To Prevent Close Encounters

Young black bears are leaving their mothers for the first time, TWRA officials said.

Information and Education Coordinator Mime Barnes said this is a busy time of year for the bears. The young bears are exploring the world on their own for the first time, which means they may get a little too close to humans in counties across the Upper Cumberland.

Barnes recommended making your house less attractive to bears.

“If you’re feeding birds or if you have a bird bath and are providing water just remove those things for awhile, wildlife lived without us for thousands and thousands of years and it will continue to do so,” Barnes said.

Even hummingbird feeders should be taken down, Barnes said. She also recommended storing grills inside and garbage in the garage until it can be taken to a convenience center.

“Those are the most dangerous animals that we deal with, those that have been conditioned to human food, and they’re not choosing humans, they’re choosing an easy meal,” Barnes said.

The bears will move through early summer, Barnes said. So here in a few weeks, it should be safe to put the bird feeders back out.