Bird Feeders

Bears are also attracted to the food in bird feeders. If you don’t want bears on your property, you shouldn’t have a bird feeder. If you insist on having a bird feeder, it should be hung at least seven to eight feet from the ground, in a location that does not allow a climbing bear to get to it (generally at least four feet horizontally from a tree or post). Bears can also knock over fragile posts, so if you choose to mount a bird feeder on a post make sure the post is extremely secure—and not something the bear can climb.

Birds who feed at bird feeders typically leave a mess of spilled seed and nuts on the ground, which can also attract bears. Clean the area under a bird feeder regularly to minimize this risk. Suet balls can solve the spillage problem but because of their high fat content and strong odor they will likely attract curious bears more than seed or nuts. As with garbage, if a bear cannot easily get to the food in a bird feeder he or she will likely move on to another, easier food source.