Black bear sightings were reported in two Massachusetts towns over the weekend, a reminder that the animals have emerged from their winter dens.
Bears usually den between December and February, then wander out in the spring, searching for food.
Grafton police said over the weekend that they’ve had an uptick in sightings in North Grafton. In neighboring Millbury, a black bear has been spotted wandering town. Officers caught up with it on Pineland Avenue, and after snapping a picture, determined it wasn’t causing any trouble.
Black bears are generally wary of people, but will be attracted to food sources like bird feeders. Never feed bears and if you spot one in your yard, experts say you should remove feeders or other sources of food like unsecured trash cans. Bears can lose their fear of humans if they become accustomed to being fed, and can even cause damage breaking into buildings on a search for a meal.
If you spot a bear on your property, you can try to scare it off by making noise, such as banging pots and pans or using an air horn. Keep pets supervised and secured.
Bears will often attack chicken and livestock. Take steps to protect your property.
If you run into a bear in nature during a hike, speak in a calm voice and back away slowly. Make yourself bigger by raising your arms. Try to leave the area, and if the bear follows try to scare it off by making noise. If the bear charges – which is rare – fight back with anything you have.
Black bears are common in western and central Massachusetts, and sightings have been increasingly reported in eastern Massachusetts in recent years.
For more information from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, click here.