Black bears are big and strong, and if they want something — like your food — not much can stop them. They are also surprisingly smart. Many bears recognize and can open food containers, like coolers and refrigerators, whether they are on your picnic table, in your car, or on your porch.

And they may not wait for you to leave before they approach. Real bears are not as polite as Yogi Bear; they make a mess, scare you away, and come back for more if you’ve got it.

Bears don’t usually start out this way. They become a nuisance after making the connection between people and food. But once they’ve become a nuisance (a “break-in” bear), the DEC must intervene for reasons of public safety, and the intervention may result in a dead bear. So, the DEC has a slogan, “A fed bear is a dead bear,” to remind people to keep food and garbage in bear-proof containers and to be careful not to attract bears.  

During the summer months, the Express will be providing information about black bears to help remind people each week not to “feed” the bears. The information will appear under this logo drawn by Express cartoonist Phil Juliano. Look for the logo in the paper each week for information and tips.