Bear Attractants are items that are not usually found in the wilderness, and attract bears into the city. By eliminating or managing these unnatural attractants, we can reduce the chances of human-bear conflicts.  
​The following are four of the most common bear attractants, aside from garbage and fruit trees.

Bird Feeders

Both birdseed and hummingbird feeders provide a large source of calories for hungry bears. Even when hung high in the air or between trees on a clothesline, bears can concoct numerous ways to reach them.  The only way to ensure that bears do not become conditioned to seeking out bird feeders for calories is by refraining from using feeders.

List of tips:

• Take bird feeders down between March - November
• If feeding in the winter, clean up seeds below the feeder in spring
• Make sure birdseed is kept indoors
• Attract birds to your yard with trees or flowers
• A bird bath is an easy way to attract birds, and is not considered a bear attractant even if a bear drinks from or plays in it!

• Make sure birdseed is kept indoors

Bears can smell and seek out birdseed and hummingbird feeders! (Photo: Bill Zwiers)

Compost

Composting is a great way to reduce waste.  In fact, it can help prevent your garbage can from becoming over-full and stinky, thus reducing the attractiveness of your garbage to bears.  When properly managed, kitchen waste can be added to compost without attracting bears.

Composting Tips:

• Keep compost material well aerated
• No fruit material, peels, cores, or pits
• No dairy products
• No meat or fish material
• For more composting tips, visit REAPS

Backyard compost attracts the interest of bears, as it often contains food scraps. (Photo: Carrie Martin)

Pet Food

It may be marketed for dogs or cats, but bears also think your pet's food is pretty tasty. 

Tips for Pet Food:

• Bring in food dishes and clean up spillage after feeding
• Do not store pet food in bulk containers outside
• Consider feeding pets inside
• If a bear is frequenting your area, keep your pet inside

Barbeques

Residual grease and food scraps left on your grill might catch the interest of a bear!

Tips for BBQs:

• Keep barbeques clean
  
• After cooking, set a timer for 5 minutes, turn the flames to high, and burn off residual grease and food bits
  
• Scrub the grill and removed charred food once cool
  
• If possible, store barbeque in a garage or a bear-resistant shed
• If storage is not possible, consider purchasing a cover to reduce odours being carried by the wind and enticing a bear into your backyard.