{"id":594,"date":"2026-04-03T12:32:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T12:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/?p=594"},"modified":"2026-04-03T12:32:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T12:32:00","slug":"thousands-of-black-bears-invade-neighborhoods-as-spring-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/?p=594","title":{"rendered":"Thousands of black bears invade neighborhoods as spring begins"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The post Thousands of black bears are coming to your neighborhood as spring begins appeared first on AZ Animals.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">quick take<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There are currently more than 12,000 black bears invading residential areas in Michigan.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Bears have a long-term memory for finding food, which can attract repeated predatory visits.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">If humans don&#8217;t take precautions like securing trash and fencing livestock, they can accidentally attract bears to their homes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As we emerge from our cozy winter dens excited by the warm spring weather, bears also emerge from hibernation. This means that conflicts between humans and bears may soon increase.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">North American black bear (<em>american urus<\/em>) are found everywhere from northern Canada to the western and eastern United States and northern Mexico. Once bears begin to wake up, they may wander into nearby towns, so it&#8217;s important to be prepared for such an encounter.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">12,000 black bears wake up from hibernation<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Many states have already issued spring warnings to protect and educate their communities. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) estimates that 12,450 black bears will emerge from their dens this spring, many giving birth to new cubs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Michigan is bear country,&#8221; Jared Duquette, Michigan DNR human-wildlife interaction specialist, said in a press release. &#8220;And as bears emerge from their winter dens, it&#8217;s important to remember that we can avoid conflict by living responsibly with these amazing animals and following basic best practices.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<div>\n<p>This spring, Asiatic black bears will emerge from hibernation. <\/p>\n<p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9CSNafzger\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>(CSNafzger\/Shutterstock.com)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) also warned residents to be on the lookout for bears emerging from hibernation this spring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;This is the time of year when people start calling us about wildlife encounters. The weather is nice and both humans and wildlife are out and about,&#8221; extension biologist Farin Owens said in a press release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife issued a press release in February 2026 stating that it received a total of 5,299 reports of bear sightings and collisions in 2025, a 15% increase over the previous six years. Of these, more than 57% were related to trash that attracts bears.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">accidentally attract a bear<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to BearWise, black bears often emerge from their dens to stretch their legs and wander around when they are hungry, thirsty, or groggy. They may return to their nests to continue hibernating, or they may decide to stay awake during this season. Either way, you don&#8217;t want to disturb them when they&#8217;re looking for sustenance after a long winter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Although you may not intend to attract bears to your home, there are many things humans do unconsciously that can attract bears to your neighborhood.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">For example, bears have an excellent sense of smell and memory, allowing them to smell and remember food from a mile away. <em>where <\/em>Over the years, they&#8217;ve found food, from bird feeders to backyard grills, and returned again and again to find more. Even if there is no food left outside, bears are likely to return if they think there is food nearby, and may even enter your home in search of more food.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Two black bear cubs interact with their mother on a road in Yellowstone National Park.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775303005_941_Thousands-of-black-bears-invade-neighborhoods-as-spring-begins.jpeg\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\">\n<div>\n<p>A mother&#8217;s protective instincts can be dangerous, so never come between a cub and its mother.<\/p>\n<p class=\"copyright\">\u00a9JMP_Traveler\/Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>(JMP_Traveler\/Shutterstock.com)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">If you live in an area with a high bear population, there are several precautions you can take to protect yourself (and the bears living nearby) from harm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Especially in the spring and summer, remove bird feeders, clean grills after use, don&#8217;t leave pet food outside, and wait until collection day to put out trash,&#8221; Duquette warned in a press release. You can also use bear-proof trash cans to keep bears out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">BearWise also recommends giving your car a deep clean to avoid leaving behind any trash or food that could smell like a bear. Protect chickens and small livestock. Install an electric fence or net around the bee hive. Store pet food in bear-proof containers.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">fierce mama bears<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Bears with new cubs can be more protective than usual (there&#8217;s a reason the &#8220;mama bear&#8221; stereotype exists!). Do not approach, feed, or touch the cubs, as the mother may react aggressively if she feels the cubs are in danger.<br \/>Mother bears may charge humans and fight violently, putting their lives at risk to protect their cubs. If they feel a threat to their children, they will not hesitate to attack. If you encounter a bear cub, it is best to leave the area quietly and as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">We also recommend carrying bear spray. If you encounter a bear, back away slowly without looking it in the eye so it doesn&#8217;t appear threatening. You can also report bear sightings to your local wildlife agency.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The post Thousands of black bears are coming to your neighborhood as spring begins appeared first on AZ Animals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>#Thousands #black #bears #invade #neighborhoods #spring #begins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The post Thousands of black bears are coming to your neighborhood as spring begins appeared first on AZ Animals. quick take There are currently more than 12,000 black bears invading residential areas in Michigan. Bears have a long-term memory for finding food, which can attract repeated predatory visits. If humans don&#8217;t take precautions like securing &#8230; <a title=\"Thousands of black bears invade neighborhoods as spring begins\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/?p=594\" aria-label=\"Read more about Thousands of black bears invade neighborhoods as spring begins\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":595,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2],"tags":[2242,2243,2246,2174,18,2247,2244,2248,259,2245],"class_list":["post-594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-wilde-life","tag-asian-black-bear","tag-baby-bear","tag-bears","tag-begins","tag-black","tag-invade","tag-michigan-dnr","tag-neighborhoods","tag-spring","tag-thousands"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chabrok.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}