Early spring - another sign

One that bears watching (arrrrrr....) From the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Spring arrives early for hungry bears
Due to unseasonably warm weather, bears are on the move early this year, prompting state wildlife managers to remind the public about ways to avoid conflicts with black bears.

Rich Beausoleil, bear and cougar specialist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said the department has already received reports of black bear activity in King and Chelan counties and coastal areas.

"Black bears usually start making appearances in mid-to-late April, but warm weather can cause them to stir earlier," Beausoleil said. "Black bears are hungry when they emerge from their dens, because they lose up to half of their body weight during hibernation."

Natural foods are scarce this early in the year, so bears often start looking for the easiest source of high-protein food, he said.

Beausoleil strongly recommends that people take steps to avoid attracting black bears to their home, particularly in areas known for bear activity. That means securing garbage cans, removing backyard bird seed and not leaving pet food outdoors.

"By following these three steps to deter bears, we can reduce the number of bear-human conflicts significantly," he said.

Wise words - there is a huge difference between being a tame animal and being an animal that has lost its fear of humans.

Some tips:

• Never intentionally feed bears or other wild animals.
• Keep garbage cans in a garage or another secure area until collection day.
• Remove pet food from areas accessible to wildlife.
• Take down birdfeeders until winter.
• Thoroughly clean barbecue grills after each use.
• When camping, thoroughly clean all cooking utensils after use and seal uneaten food in airtight containers that are stored in bear-proof canisters away from sleeping areas.

More info at the WDFW's website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/living/bears.html

I love bears and would love to have one as a pet but you need to get them as a cub - before their eyes open - for them to be reliable around other human beings and properly socialized.