Editorial An echo from the press: Advice to avoid conflicts with bears.

Although officials from the Department of Natural Resources say the sightings have become quite commonplace in our field, each one is carrying on someone's property by foot. And for some - worry. They fear that a bear will damage their property or hurt someone.

For these reasons, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds people living near the habitat of bears that are aware of the presence of bears in the spring and summer and looking for food sources on their property that may be cause for concern. Attract her

"Bears are very active and have very large areas," said Beau Liddell, manager of wildlife management at Little Falls for the Department of Natural Resources of Minnesota, in a press release last week. , "The interaction with people in downtown Minnesota has increased in the last two months."

Liddell said that when bears come out of hibernation, their metabolism gradually increases, and at some point begin to look for food when many natural food sources can be scarce. Pet foods, feed, birdseed, compost or garbage can attract bears.

In Minnesota, only black bears live in the wild. They are usually shy and flee when they meet. Advice from Liddell: Never go for a bear or pet him. Injuries are rare, but bears are potentially dangerous because of their size, strength and speed.

The DNR does not move problematic bears. Domestic bears rarely stay where they are released. They can go back to where they were captured or become a problem elsewhere.

The DNR offers these tips to avoid bear conflicts.

Around the terrace

• Do not allow food to grill and picnic outdoors, especially at night. Refrigerators are not bearable.

• Replace hummingbird feeding troughs with hanging flower baskets that also attract hummingbirds.

• Remove the bird feeder or hang it 10 feet 4 feet from the nearest trees.

• Use a rope and pulley system to fill the feeders and clean the spilled seed. If bears are annoying, bird feeder houses must be slaughtered between 1 April and 1 December. Bird feeders at night do not prevent bears from visiting them during the day.

• Keep pet food indoors safely and feed indoors. If pets need to be fed outdoors, feed them as much as they eat.

• Clean and store barbecues after each use. Store them in a secure shed or garage, away from windows and doors.

• Collect the fruits of the trees as they are ripe and immediately collect the fallen fruits.

• Limit the compost heaps to grass, leaves and garden remnants and turn them regularly. Do not add food leftovers.

• Harvest garden products when they mature. Keep the gardens away from the woods and shrubs that the bears can use as shelter.

• Use as many native plants as possible in landscaping. Clover and dandelion attract bears.

• Lift beehives on sheltered platforms or build well-designed electric fences.

• Do not feed wild animals (such as corn, oats, granules or molasses blocks).

rubbish

• Keep the garbage in dumpsters or containers. Rubber or plastic containers are not yield-proof.

• Keep the garbage in a safe building until the morning of pick-up.

• Thoroughly rinse all reusable containers with hot water to remove any product residue.

• Keep recyclable containers, such as As beverage cans, inside.

• Store all garbage badly smelling like leftover meat or fish in a freezer until a garbage collector can throw or pick them up.

• As soon as possible, carry waste that smells or rots on your landfill so you can bury it.

If you continue to experience bear problems after cleaning up the food sources, contact an MNR wildlife department in the area. For the name of the local wildlife manager, contact the information center at 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 or visit MNR mndnr.gov/contact/locator.html.

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