07/26/2026
Just another BearWise reminder 🐻 keep them wild!
Black bears have relatively short, curved claws (often under 2 inches) that are well adapted for climbing trees and tearing into rotten logs in search of insects. They’re also well-suited for opening lever-style handles and sliding doors, unscrewing jar tops, opening coolers and picnic baskets and pushing up unlocked windows. That’s what it’s so important to lock it up, roll it up, and clean it up!
Here are a few easy tips to keep in mind this summer:
* Get everyone in the habit of cleaning out your vehicle when you get out of it. Don’t leave pet food, bird seed, snacks, trash, chewing gum, candy, scented air fresheners, sunscreen, lip balm, hand lotion or anything else with an odor inside, even for a few hours. Or sitting in the truck bed.
* Avoid scented air fresheners.
* Lock your doors and roll up and lock your windows, even if you’re just parked in your driveway or in front of your rental. This will also deter opportunistic humans up to no good.
* If you’re away from home and must leave a cooler, picnic basket or other goodies in your vehicle, close windows, lock up and store stuff out of sight. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in bear country, consider investing in a bear-resistant cooler.
Visit www.BearWise.org for information you can trust and solutions that work.
Thanks for living BearWise. You’re helping to keep people, pets and stuff safe and bears wild.