Ranger Smith gave great advice when it comes to bruins
“Please don’t feed the bears.”
That sage advice may have been delivered in a 1961 cartoon by Ranger Smith to one of childhood’s favorite bears — Yogi — but it still holds true today.
We may not realize it when we put our garbage out at night that the can is among places where the local bear population easily feasts, as are outdoor pet food dishes, bird feeders, perhaps even a forgotten hamburger on the grill.
And we may not realize it in our normal comings and goings, but this area has one of the healthiest bear populations in the state.
Think about it. Hunting season for bears was expanded in 2019 to manage the bear population more efficiently. A record harvest resulted, with bears taken in 58 of 67 counties.
More bears were killed in Lycoming County than any other in the state, with the next highest harvest in Clinton and Tioga counties, which tied.
“It’s hard for some to imagine that Pennsylvania has such a vibrant black bear population,” said Tom Keller, supervisor of the Game Mammals Section of the state Game Commission.
And that population gets increasingly close to some of our communities. A mother bear with two cubs was seen roaming the streets of South Williamsport this spring and summer before they were caught and relocated, but that’s not the only place with close encounters with bruins.
Fortunately, the risk of human to bear contact is not high, according to the Game Commission. But it does happen, sometimes with bad consequences.
The best advice is to be aware and to secure garbage cans and other sources of food outdoors. Follow the advice of Ranger Smith and avoid attracting bears onto your property in the first place.