By Bob McNitt
Outdoors Writer

Earlier this week, Dr. Richard Jorgensen and his wife awoke at 5 a.m. to noises coming from outside their residence just east of Norwich. "At first, I thought it might be birds at our feeders, but it sounded too loud," Dr. Jorgensen said. "I got up and looked out the window, and there, not 25 feet away, was a black bear munching on one of our bird-feeder tubes. I grabbed the camera and tried to get a photo, but forgot the auto-flash, so the light bounced off the window glass, and I failed to get the photo. However, the flash scared the bear off."
What occurred at the Jorgensen residence is becoming more commonplace all over the county as increasingly more black bears are moving in, taking advantage of the dense growth that has replaced our previously open cultivated land. In putting a twist on the classic line from the movie "Field of Dreams" - "Build it and he will come." – create ideal bear habitat, and the bears will come. And have they ever, ushering in a whole new chapter in human-wildlife co-existence in Chenango and adjacent counties.
J. Rebecca Hargrave, Extension Educator of Community Horticulture and Natural Resources at Cornell Cooperative Extension in Norwich, said the number of calls they'd received reporting bear incidents around residences this year was running well ahead of last year's. Hargrave said that the vast majority involved bears getting into garbage or destroying bird feeders.
My career as an outdoor writer and editor has meant that I've spent a considerable amount of time in black bear country, much of that in Canada, where the bruins are almost as abundant as woodchucks are here. And because they've dealt with them their entire lives, native Canadians living outside of the larger cities view bears about the same as we do woodchucks - primarily as pests, although entertaining to watch. They also know how to co-exist and avoid problems with the big furry moochers. They understand that the bear's world revolves around available food and that humans usually have a surplus that's often readily available.
Having a black bear in your backyard is often frightening, but are they truly dangerous? Dr. Lynn L. Rogers of the Wildlife Research Institute in Minnesota had this to say: "Like gorillas, black bears bolster their fearsome reputation with occasional blustery bluff charges. But also like gorillas, their ferocious displays seldom end in contact, and we are learning that black bears can be added to the growing list of animals that were once feared but are now known to be mostly gentle and timid."
In Hemlock Farms, a town of 7,000 in northeast Pennsylvania, the residents share their seven square mile settlement with over 20 black bears, or about three bears per square mile – a higher density than is found in any national park or national forest. The bears hibernate under people's porches and in their back yards, often without the people's knowledge. In the summer, the residents have thousands of bear "encounters," but it's not a problem. They enjoy seeing the bears, but also have learned what to do and not to do to avoid human-bear conflicts.
The rarity of the fatal or serious black bear attacks, despite the bears' expansive range and plentiful numbers, confirms the non-confrontational, timid disposition that's been bred into black bears over eons. But why approximately one black bear in 600,000 becomes a killer remains a mystery. None of the killer bears tested had rabies, although some had common physical problems. Predatory attacks have almost always been in remote areas where the bears had little or no previous contact with humans. Minor defensive attacks that usually occur in campgrounds are normally by bears that are not "tame" enough to feel truly comfortable near people, and can be avoided if people use common sense, such as not luring bears closer with food or maintaining a comfortable distance between themselves and the animals.
While it's not yet a major concern for all local residents, the expansion of the black bear's range into our part of the state will become an increasingly important consideration for homeowners as well as farmers. Sightings of bruins have steadily increased during the last decade and will continue to do so as their population increases. Here are some suggestions from New Hampshire, a state with a high density of bears.
Residents in suburban or rural areas should:
* Keep garbage in airtight containers inside their garage or storage area. Double bagging and the use of ammonia will reduce odors that attract bears.
* Garbage for pickup should be put outside the morning of collection and not the night before.
* Do not place meat or sweet food scraps in compost piles.
* Do not leave pet food or dishes outdoors at night.
* Clean up and/or store outdoor grills after use.
* Suburban or rural food businesses should use a bear-proof dumpster.
* Never intentionally put out feed for bears to attract them for viewing.
To avoid bears when camping, you should:
* Maintain a clean campsite.
* Put food scraps and fat drippings in closed containers, not in the campfire.
* Do not cook or eat in your tent.
* Keep food and cooking gear separate from your sleeping area.
* Keep food in a closed-up vehicle or hang food at least 10 feet off the ground and five feet out on a limb that will not support a bear.
Black bears do not typically exhibit aggressive behavior, even when confronted. Their first response is to flee. Black bears rarely attack or defend themselves against humans, but will sometimes "bluff charge" when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground and slowly back away. Don't run.
People should enjoy the opportunity of watching black bears and other wildlife, but from a safe distance. Respect them and their right to live, but don't purposely place food or other "bear-edibles" where it's easily accessible and attractive to these seemingly always hungry mammals.