DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE NEWS RELEASE

With warmer weather here, bears are on the move and several areas around New Mexico are seeing increased activity. The New Mexico Department of Wildlife wants to make sure everyone’s prepared, whether you’re heading out to camp, hike or just going about life at home.

Bears are naturally wary of people and usually keep their distance, but once they get used to finding easy food (trash, pet food, birdseed, unattended coolers), that changes fast and it can lead to dangerous encounters for both people and bears.

If you see a bear: Don’t run. Make yourself look big, make noise, wave your arms, and back away slowly. Never get between a mother and her cubs. If you’re attacked, fight back aggressively.

At home:
• Store garbage in a secured can, ideally in a garage until pickup day
• Bring pet food indoors
• Take down birdfeeders or only put out a day’s worth of seed
• Pick up fallen fruit from trees
• Clean grills thoroughly after each use and store them securely
• Keep compost and wood piles away from the house

Recreating:
• Keep a clean camp, no food or trash left out
• Store coolers in a vehicle or trailer, windows up
• Cook away from where you sleep, and keep soap, toothpaste, and cooking clothes away from your tent
• Make noise on the trail so bears know you’re there
• Hike in groups, and keep kids and pets close

If you’ve seen recent bear activity in your area, let your neighbors know, a heads-up can prevent a bad encounter. If you’re dealing with a nuisance bear on your property, contact your local Department of Wildlife conservation officer.