VERMONT — Many Vermont bears are not getting much rest this winter, according to Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s bear biologist Forrest Hammond, so he is urging people to avoid disturbing them or providing any kind of food for them.
Most bears seek their winter dens when it becomes difficult for them to find food and not due to winter cold. During years of natural food shortage, some bears give up trying to find food and enter their winter dens as early as October. This enables them to conserve the energy and fat reserves they have, rather than staying out and expending more energy looking for food that is not there.
“But in years like 2019 when late autumn foods such as acorns, beech nuts, apples, mountain ash berries, and winter berries are plentiful, many bears will remain active as long as they can find food,” said Hammond. “This was why so many bears and bear sign are still being observed even now. If they are still able to access some kind of food, many of them will remain active, rather than stay in their dens.” 
“We have a lot less snow this winter, and temperatures have been higher than normal, making it even more tempting for bears to wake up and seek a snack,” said Hammond. “Acorns and beechnuts are still abundant this winter, and there isn’t enough snow in much of the state to make finding them difficult, so many bears are still active.”
“You can help by removing any potential source of food outside that will attract bears,” he added. “Bears can smell a food source from long distances. And, if a bear starts to show up in your neighborhood, please bring in your bird feeders.”
“In winters like this one where there is not much of an insulating snow cover, bears feel less secure and spend less time actually sleeping while in their dens. So, people who go hiking with their dogs need to realize that with little snow this winter, bears are more vulnerable to being disturbed by free-roaming dogs. Either leave your dog at home or keep it under control while you are out there. If you accidently disturb a bear from its den, it is important that you not return to the site as a bear will often come back once, but usually will leave for good after being scared off a second time. And, newborn cubs are dependent on their mothers for warmth so they don’t survive long if their mother abandons them.”
Hammond suggests learning more about bears on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website at tinyurl.com/bearsawake.
People who have bear incidents at home are urged to report them on the same website.