New Jersey is home to all kinds of beautiful wildlife, including black bears. Black bears are getting a lot of attention these days for the wrong reasons. They're venturing too close to homes and into backyards looking for food. Bears that look for food near your home or in your yard likely have learned bad habits from people who feed them intentionally, or unintentionally, by carelessly leaving out food or garbage.

People who feed bears think they're helping them. But, it only invites trouble. It can make them a nuisance or even aggressive. When that happens, the bears must be destroyed to protect your family and your neighbors. What's more, it's illegal to feed bears in New Jersey. Anyone who feeds bears could face a penalty of up to $1,000 for each offense.

Taking steps to avoid attracting bears with food or garbage is the best way to prevent them from becoming a nuisance near your home.

Be Bear Aware:

1. Use bear-proof garbage containers. Store all garbage in airtight containers and place them along the inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area.
   
   
2. Put garbage out on collection day, not the night before.
   
   
3. Wash garbage containers with disinfectant solution at least once a week to remove odors. Draping rags soaked in bleach over your garbage bags helps eliminate odors.
   
   
4. Feed dogs and cats outside during daylight hours only. Immediately remove all uneaten food and scraps and food bowls.
   
   
5. Clean outdoor grills thoroughly after use.
   
   
6. Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles.
   
   
7. Feed birds only between December 1 and April 1 when bears are least active. Suspend bird feeders from a free-[hanging wire, making sure the bottom of the feeder is at least 10 feet off the ground. Clean up spilled seeds and shells.
   
   
8. Pick up any fruit that falls from fruit trees daily and discard in your airtight garbage containers.
   
   
9. Consider installing electric fencing to protect crops, beehives, and small livestock if you live in an area of high bear population
   
   
10. Report black bear damage or nuisance behavior to your local police department or to NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife at (908) 735-8793.
    
    
11. Visit www.NJFishandWildlife.com or www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/bearinfo.htm for more information
    
    

Remember: If you care about NJ bears, don't feed them.