BearWise Property Attractant Auditor & Foraging Simulator
Bears aren't the problem—unsecured residential calories are. Audit your property's caloric footprint, model hyperphagia foraging corridors, and test BearWise mitigations before encounters happen.
The Biology of Human-Bear Conflict
Black bears possess an olfactory sense estimated to be 7 times greater than a bloodhound's, capable of detecting scent plumes across miles. During late summer and autumn hyperphagia, bears experience an involuntary hormonal drive to consume up to 20,000 calories per day to survive winter denning.
When natural food sources fluctuate, human communities bordering woodlands offer dense, low-effort caloric deposits. A single residential bird feeder contains ~12,000 accessible calories—equivalent to days of berry foraging. Once a bear becomes food-conditioned to residential yards, habituation follows, often leading to property damage and euthanasia of the bear.
The 6 Core BearWise® Basics
1. Never Feed or Approach Bears
Intentionally feeding bears or letting them access human food habituates them to human presence and teaches them that homes equal meals.
2. Secure Food, Garbage, and Recycling
Store cans inside a bear-resistant garage or shed until the morning of pickup, or use certified bear-resistant IGBC-tested latched enclosures.
3. Remove Bird Feeders April Through November
Bird seed, suet, and nectar are irresistible high-fat rewards for bears. Offer natural native plantings or bird baths instead.
4. Clean and Degrease Outdoor Grills
Burn off grease residue immediately after cooking, scrub drip pans, and store covered grills inside a secure outbuilding.
5. Protect Gardens, Apiaries & Small Livestock
Enclose chicken coops, rabbit hutches, and bee yards with high-voltage (6,000V+) energizer electric fencing.