Don't feed the bears... ever!

• DON’T FEED A BEAR—EVER… A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR!
• Keep trash in a bear-proof garbage container or stored in a sturdy metal shed or closed garage. Put out garbage only on morning of pickup.
• Don’t feed pets outdoors or leave pet dishes or store pet food outdoors.
• Hang seed feeders from wires between trees high enough off the ground that a bear can’t reach it. Bring in hummingbird feeders at night. Feed suet and peanut butter only in winter when bears are in hibernation. Store birdseed in a closed container in a sturdy shed or the garage.
• Keep barbeque grills clean.
• Keep kitchen windows and doors closed on summer nights.
• For small livestock and chickens use a sturdy metal shed and/or a 5-strand electric fence using an approved fence charger with alternating current. Be sure to check with the county inspector for guidelines and/limitations.
• Put an electric fence around beehives.
• Don’t plant fruit trees or berry bushes near your home. Remove fruit before it ripens to stop bears climbing and breaking branches. Remove fallen fruit. Don’t add melon rinds or fruit to compost pile except in winter.
• Don’t leave food, groceries, pet food or birdseed in you car overnight
• Don’t feed other wildlife as it will attract bears too.
• If a bear is drinking from your swimming pool or hot tub, put water out as far from your house and neighbor’s homes as possible.
• Keep all poisons inside your house; also many bears die from ingesting garbage bags.
• Keep woodpiles and junk away from the house. Bears will hunt for rodents that live there.

Please understand that a trapped bear does not transplant well. There are no pristine, unpopulated relocation areas left in New Mexico. A large percentage of bears die from being relocated.