BALTIMORE, MD—As Maryland’s black bears emerge from their winter dens, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is reminding residents and visitors to secure potential food sources.

After months of fasting, bears seek out easy food. Homeowners who leave human food sources out in the open may unintentionally attract bears to residential areas.

“Once a black bear finds an easy meal, they are likely to be repeat visitors,” warned Jonathan Trudeau, Game Mammal Section Leader for DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service. Young bears learn from easy human-generated food sources that the tastiest food comes from people.

Bears rely on their keen sense of smell to locate food, and odors from human-generated sources can be irresistible. Young bears learn from human-generated food sources that the tastiest food comes from people. Exposure to these readily available food sources changes bear behavior, putting bears at risk due to proximity to humans.

To prevent unintentional feeding and keep bears wild, DNR urges residents in bear-inhabited areas to take preventative measures, especially from April to November:

• Remove bird feeders
• Store garbage in bear-proof containers or a secure location until collection day, and rinse containers thoroughly to eliminate odors
• Bring pet food indoors and avoid leaving food bowls unattended
• Clean grills thoroughly after each use and store them indoors

While black bears are most prevalent in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties, DNR notes that they can venture into central and southern Maryland, especially during spring when young males seek new territories.

“Ensuring Maryland’s bears stay wild is a large-scale effort that benefits our bears and the Maryland public,” said Wildlife and Heritage Director Karina Stonesifer. “Taking small steps now and integrating it as part of your routine throughout the year helps to keep our bears wild.”

For more information on coexisting with black bears, residents can visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources black bear page or BearWise, a non-governmental organization dedicated to providing comprehensive information about black bear behavior.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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