A “nuisance” is any black bear someone considers unwelcome. Everyone has a different idea about what makes a bear unwelcome and what merits removal from a population.
In many examples across America, the more people learn about black bears and are able to observe them, the more willing they are to coexist with them.
To some a bear is unwelcome and should be removed if it | While others | |
lives in their area. | enjoy occasional glimpses of wildlife. | |
invades their yard. | revel that they live in an area so rich in wildlife. | |
eats from a bird feeder. | feel seeing a bear at a feeder is the joy of their day. | |
does not run at the sight of a human. | see a trusting black bear as an opportunity for observation. They know the record shows that such bears are no more dangerous than other black bears. | |
frequents a residential area. | remove food attractants if they don’t want to see bears. | |
tears into a storage shed. | determine what attracted the bear and prevent it from happening again. | |
enters a house. | close windows and doors to prevent it from happening again. | |
lightly nips someone who attempts to handle it, hand-feed it, or tease it. | refrain from such activities or learn from them. | |
displays bluster, which they interpret as a threat. | understand that bluster expresses nervousness and is not a threat. | |
bites someone. | request leniency for the bear if the circumstances were extenuating and the bear is not a threat to public safety. |
This was the pioneer attitude that eliminated black bears from much of their former range and prevents their return. Fortunately, many people have moved beyond this attitude.
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