During summer time our local black bear population begins to make trips into town, primarily for dietary fortification. The annual dry spell drags on and new green growth and forage for bears becomes harder to find. Black bears know that when times are tough they can always find enough food at our dumpsites to sustain them until conditions improve. For information on the Lincoln National Forest please click on National Forest Info.

Be as bear safe as possible:

* Try not to make any trips to the dumpsites after dark

* Save your food waste and scrap in a separate plastic bag

* Don't keep food or food waste outside

* Don't leave the grill or fryer unattended outside - not even for a second

* Hikers, bikers, runners - make noise, wear bells to alert bears to your presence

* Keep your camera in your trunk - bears are attracted to scent of film

* Never approach or corner a bear - softly speak aloud to alert bears to your presence

* Do not camp near berry bushes or anywhere there is evidence of bear

* Never give food to a bear

* Keep children and pets close to hand

What to do when a bear comes around:

* Don't play dead - bears are inclined to eat anything that appears to be food

* Fight back aggressively with anything you have - backpack, rock, stick

* Stay calm, don't run - bears can run faster

* Face the bear, don't make eye contact and slowly back away

* Make yourself as large as possible - slowly wave arms, jackets or other objects

* To chase a bear from a camp, make lots of noise - banging pots and pans together

Trash is a major contributor to problems between bears and humans.Take precautions to keep bears away from trash cans, pet food and bird feeders.

You can tell if a bear has been foraging in an area by looking for overturned rocks and tree stumps and torn-apart rotten trees and logs. Bears may mark their territory by chewing, scratching and rubbing against trees and sign posts. Look for marks or remnants of fur.