BearWise helps people live responsibly with bears

BearWise® is the program you can trust for sound information and smart solutions that help homeowners, businesses and communities coexist with bears.

What To Do if You See a Bear
Tips to Avoid Bear Encounters
Download Outreach Materials

From the BearWise Article Bank

How to be BearWise

black-bear-in-crawlspace

Will bears find a good winter den at your place?

Every day an estimated 6,000 acres of open space are converted to other uses, according to the US Forest Service. That's more than 2 million acres a year of forests, grasslands and wetlands that are now growing homes, communities, businesses and other developments. Less available land and more people means ...

Read More

The Bear Facts

Bear den locations may surprise you

When you think about a bear den, what comes to mind? A hollow tree? A cozy cave? How about a pile of abandoned tires? Or under your porch? Bears can den up in all those places and many more. Bears are flexible, creative and opportunistic; they will crawl into dens ...

Read More

BearWise in the News

m

Hazing bears helps minimize conflict, according to CDFW and BEAR League (CA, August 2025)

“Hazing bears helps minimize conflict, according to CDFW and BEAR League”

August 28, 2025  |  Tahoe Daily Tribune
South Lake Tahoe, CA

Tags: August 2025, California
m

CPW Distributes Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Grants (CO, August 2025)

“CPW Distributes Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Grants”

August 29, 2025  |  Pagosa Daily Post
Pagosa Springs, CO

 

Tags: August 2025, Colorado
m

Florida man thought it was a good idea to yell at bears to ‘haze’ them away from his house. It wasn’t (FL, August 2025)

“Florida man thought it was a good idea to yell at bears to ‘haze’ them away from his house. It wasn’t”

August 26, 2025  |  Yahoo News / The Independent
Orange County, FL

Tags: August 2025, Florida
m

Gatlinburg urges fake fall decor to prevent bear encounters (TN, August 2025)

“Gatlinburg urges fake fall decor to prevent bear encounters”

August 20, 2025  |  10 News
Gatlinburg, TN

 

Tags: August 2025, Tennessee
m

Media Statement: Black Bear Sightings Confirmed in East Texas (TX, August 2025)

“Media Statement: Black Bear Sightings Confirmed in East Texas”

August 21, 2025  |  Texas Parks & Wildlife News Release

Tags: August 2025, Texas
m

Black bear sightings in West Tennessee: TWRA provides clarity, tips (TN, August 2025)

“Black bear sightings in West Tennessee: TWRA provides clarity, tips”

August 7, 2025  |  WBBJ 7 ABC
Jackson, TN

Tags: August 2025, Tennessee
Read More
Read More BearWise Articles
Subscribe to our emails

Six At-Home BearWise Basics

Never Feed or Approach Bears

Intentionally feeding bears or allowing them to find anything that smells or tastes like food teaches bears to approach homes and people looking for more. Learn More

Secure food, garbage and recycling

Food and food odors attract bears, so don’t reward them with easily available food, liquids or garbage. Learn More

Remove bird feeders when bears are active

Remove bird feeders when bears are active

Birdseed and grains have lots of calories, so they’re very attractive to bears. Removing feeders is the best way to avoid creating conflicts with bears. Learn More

Never Leave Pet Food Outdoors

Feed pets indoors when possible. If you must feed pets outside, feed in single portions and remove bowls afterwards. Store pet food where bears can’t see or smell it. Learn More

Clean and Store Grills, Smokers

Clean and Store Grills, Smokers

Clean grills after each use and make sure that all grease, fat and food particles are removed. Store clean grills and smokers in a secure area that keeps bears out. Learn More

Alert Neighbors to Bear Activity

See bears in the area or evidence of bear activity? Tell your neighbors and share info on how to avoid bear conflicts. Learn More

Did you know that not all black bears are black? Black bear is a species; common colors include black, brown and cinnamon.

Do you spend time outdoors

…hiking, walking, cycling, jogging, camping?

Read how to Be BearWise Outdoors.

A black bear sow and her two cubs stand in a forest clearing - Ontario, Canada

Sampling of BearWise Educational Materials

Visit BearWise Store to Find More

The Black Bear Comeback

Black bears once roamed over all of America’s forested lands. But after European settlement, their numbers and habitat dwindled. Thanks to new attitudes and enlightened conservation and management efforts, black bears are making a dramatic comeback over much of their historic home range. Now that bears are returning to areas they used to call home, it’s up to people and communities to learn how to peacefully coexist with these amazing animals.

BearWise shares ways to prevent conflicts, provides resources to resolve problems, and encourages community initiatives to keep bears wild.

BearWise AFWA logo

BearWise® is a program of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Read more About BearWise.

Top photo courtesy of Steve Uffman
The BearWise® name and logos are registered trademarks of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies.