NEW YORK - New York State is home to an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 black bears that mainly inhabit mountainous regions in its western, northern, and southeastern corners. Here, they can find plenty of berries and denning sites for hibernation. Ridges and valleys may attract bears searching for food. Male bears can weigh up to 300 pounds; when natural food sources become scarce, they may enter residential areas searching for fruit, berries, insects, carrion, honey, or anything else they find suitable.
New York State Is Home To An Estimated 6,000 To 8,000 Black Bears
Bears tend to favor densely wooded habitats such as forests but can also be found grazing the grasslands, swamps, farmlands, and even suburban settings in search of food sources such as berries or other plant sources. Bears may be either diurnal or nocturnal, depending on their environment.
People become concerned when bears appear near homes, fearing any possible conflict. Experts advise keeping bears at a safe distance and refraining from feeding them. This may encourage aggressive behavior from these predatory mammals, which far outweigh us in size and might easily overwhelm any confrontation. Humans must remember this fact and remember these animals can easily overpower us!
There have been 437 sightings or complaints related to bear sightings this year, down from 501 last year, yet any bear encounter can still be an unpleasant experience for all involved. DEC euthanizes problematic bears when they pose a danger to themselves or others; in Long Lake, four compared to two last year - likely as a result of better education among residents regarding how best to coexist with these iconic residents of Long Lake.
