Time for the bird feeders to come in

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VTFW) is receiving reports of bears coming out of dens and is urging Vermonters to remove bird feeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer.

Bird feeders should be removed and yards bear-proofed before bears are seen. Acting now heads off bear conflicts over the spring and summer, and is advisable even if bears have not made a visit in the past.

Bear incidents have been on the rise over the past several years. Officials believe this trend is, in part, a result of Vermont’s abundant black bear population learning to associate people and food over multiple generations. Even with a steady increase in the number of bears harvested by hunters in recent years, including harvests exceeding 1,000 bears in 2024 and 2025, Vermont’s bear population shows signs of growth over the past five years.

Shorter winters also mean that bears are emerging from dens earlier in the spring. In recent years, bear activity has begun in mid-March. This is roughly two weeks earlier than what is traditionally considered the start of “BearWise season” in northern New England.

Preventing access to human-related foods by bears is critical to successful coexistence. Bears are found throughout Vermont, with the exception of the Champlain Islands. Most Vermonters live in bear country.

VTFW asks Vermonters to take the following proactive steps for coexisting with bears:

• Take down birdfeeders between mid-March and December.
• Store garbage in bear-resistant containers or structures, trash cans alone are not enough.
• Follow the steps on our web page for composting in bear country.
• Use electric fences to keep chickens and honeybees safe.
• Request a bear-resistant dumpster from a waste hauler.
• Feed your pets indoors.
• Never feed bears, it is illegal.

VTFW also asks Vermonters to submit reports of bears engaging in potentially dangerous behavior, like targeting bird feeders and garbage, feeding on crops or livestock or investigating campgrounds. Reports can be submitted on the VTFW website at https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/living-with-wildlife/living-wit.... The data help biologists keep track of bear incidents and provide early interventions to head off conflicts.

Feeding bears isn’t just bad for the bear; it creates risk for individuals and neighbors, and it is illegal. If bears find food on a property, it is the responsibility of the owner of that property to remove the attractant.