Bear sightings and encounters have been occurring more frequently than usual this summer leading to a spike in bear-related calls to DEC and local law enforcement officials, as many as a dozen per week. Higher reports of encounters with bears have been coming from the Old Forge-Inlet corridor, and in the High Peaks (where bear canisters are required).

Nearly a dozen nuisance bears have been put down so far this year in the Adirondacks. Wildlife biologists say the increased encounters are the result of reduced natural food sources this year.

New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation (REC) Region 5, which covers most of the Adirondacks, has put down five nuisance bears. Another bear was killed by an individual who had been issued a nuisance bear permit; two additional nuisance bear permits have been issued, that have not yet been acted upon.

“Nuisance bear permits are only issued to people with livestock or crops that are experiencing considerable and frequent problems with a bear harassing their livestock or damaging their crops,” DEC Region 5 spokesperson David Winchell told the Almanack, “We do not issue nuisance bear permits to people that have problems at their residence.”

DEC Region 6 spokesperson Stephen Litwhiler said his offices are receiving a high number of nuisance bear calls, mostly in that Old Forge – Inlet Corridor.  “At the peak a month ago we were getting 10 to 15 calls a week, now about 8 to 10 a week by wildlife and law enforcement,” Litwhiler said, adding that they have had to put down five bears so far this year.  “These were the worst actors and it was as a last resort,” he said, “Other bears have been ‘educated’ about staying away from dwellings and campgrounds with noise makers and rubber buckshot. Trapping and relocating was tried over the past couple weeks without catching any bears. Its just not that easy.”

Adirondack black bears will take advantage of readily available food sources, including bird feeders and garbage. To prevent encounters with bears, you should never intentionally feed them, and you should discourage them from seeking food from sources near your home or camp.

“Black bears are generally timid and avoid people but if allowed access to human foods chronic problems can develop,” Region 6 Big Game Biologist Steven Heerkens said. “The major issues we are seeing this summer with nuisance activity has been exacerbated by the intentional feeding by campers and visitors who think it is fun to feed bears for pictures or to be close to bears.”