Biologists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) provide the following recent examples:
• A coastal bear near Waldport feeding on garbage and pet food was killed by a homeowner because of the safety concerns.
• A Damascas bear in eastern Multnomah County has been seen several times eating from residents' garbage. It has eluded capture. Other bears have been sighted in Sandy and Welches in Clackamas County.
• Campers in central Oregon campgrounds have seen bears near Crescent Lake eating from campers' garbage.

The number of bear complaints statewide dropped in 2000 to 335 from 904 in 1999. The five-year average is 645. This year is shaping up to be potentially as bad as 1999, said Don Whittaker, an ODFW biologist who tracks the bear population statewide. The complaints began early this year and stem from dry conditions that reduced natural food production in high elevations. As a result, bears have traveled to low elevations seeking food. Problem bears result when they find human food, garbage, pet food or bird food to eat instead.

ODFW will not relocate bears habituated to humans. Research indicates these animals will seek human foods in their new habitat or move to an area where human foods are available. Most bears sighted in residential areas do not cause problems. However, bears that are habituated to human food become a human safety concern. Biologists, landowners or other wildlife managers are left with little choice but to humanely destroy them. About 250 bears are killed each year because they cause damage to agriculture or livestock or threaten human safety.

"It's unfortunate, but if we have to trap a bear, the bear is likely going to be destroyed," said Whittaker. "But there's several things people can do to prevent problems from occurring."

In summer and early fall, bears sometimes feed every waking minute to gear up for winter hibernation, a behavior known as hyperfagia. It's the bear's quest for food that sometimes gets them in trouble with humans. Bears are opportunistic feeders and will take advantage of easy backyard or campground spoils. Once bears have found a food source they will return for more and can cause injury to humans, livestock and damage to property.

"Bears are driven by their stomach. Whether the attractant is pet food, bird feeders or human garbage, they are willing to go to great lengths for food," said Tom Thornton, ODFW wildlife biologist in the Portland area.

Officials suggest being cautious when feeding birds in bear country. Biologists recommend using regular birdseed and not suet feeders. The fat in suet will attract bears says Thornton. "Some folks have put tarps under their feeders to help keep the seed cleaned up. Many bring their feeders in at night. The idea is to leave nothing out that will attract bears," related Thornton. "If bears don't find a reward, they will look somewhere else for food."

ODFW has a few other suggestions when living in bear country:
1. Remove all food attractants. Don't leave food unattended. Bears are creatures of habit and will return to spots where they have previously found food.
2. Keep all garbage inside your house or closed garage, and only place it outside just before the garbage pick-up.
3. If bears have previously ransacked garbage cans, pour bleach into cans to remove odors.
4. Keep all pet food inside the house or garage.
5. Add electric fences, which are inexpensive and offer an easy way to deter bears from fruit trees, compost piles or beehives.
6. Clean up barbecue grills and store them inside. The odor from grills will attract bears.
7. When camping, keep all food and garbage locked in containers and stored in secure facilities, such as your car. Biologists advise to never store food in your tent.

To obtain additional information on living and camping in bear country and protecting yourself in the unlikely event of an attack, contact a local ODFW office to obtain the brochure "Living with Wildlife: Black Bear."

If bears are a problem on your property or exhibit aggressive behavior, contact the nearest ODFW office. If you encounter a bear while camping in a National Forest campground, report the incident to the U.S. Forest Service.