Do you own a house with an orchard or vegetable garden?

If we act like a community, we can do more for bear conservation than any administration, institution or government.

READING TIME 7 MIN

There is only one rule to follow: don’t attract the bears!

Let us remember that every sacrifice is a gesture of respect and conservation, which makes our town a true community. Is it possible to create a village that challenges the bears’ intelligence? There is only one rule to follow: do not lure bears to your town with unattended food scraps, fruit trees, feed and farm animals. Is this really possible? Yes, with simple adjustments to your daily routine and by asking yourself whether it is possible to make some sacrifices for the good of all. Securing everything that attracts bears is the only way to prevent damage to property, to avoid risky situations for people and to make bears too much of a problem.

It is much easier to secure food than to teach bears not to look for it. It is a very rare event to be attacked by a bear in your own backyard, but why play with safety?

Read this list of good practices and find the one(s) that suits you best:

With this list of best practices, you can help your community coexist better with bears:

Remove from your garden trees and shrubs that produce fruit attractive to bears (apples, pears, cherries, plums, grapes, figs, blackberries, and raspberries). Replace them with varieties that do not produce fruit, or with fruits that are not appealing to bears (for example: quinces). If you don’t want to remove the plants, you can use gardening techniques to prevent them from bearing fruit. If you decide to let them fruit, pick the fruit when it’s ripe (or just before) and don’t let it accumulate on the ground. If you’re unable to collect the fruit yourself, ask a friend, neighbor, volunteer organizations, or the nearest park authority for help: you will surely find someone willing to listen and assist you.

Remember that you can always use a well-built fence or an electric fence as a tool to protect gardens, orchards, and fruit trees. Don’t leave your backyard animals, or their food, unprotected. Shelter them at night in bear-proof chicken coops. If you let them roam free during the day, make sure no animals can enter your garden, or use electric fences. Parks and associations often offer incentives for purchasing preventive structures like electrified fences or bear-proof coops: be sure to inquire about the available options!

Don’t leave trash outside your home unless you have a bear-proof container. Here are some examples. If your town has door-to-door collection, leave the bins outside in the morning, no more than two hours before the scheduled pickup time. If the town doesn’t do this yet, ask and insist that the waste management company adopt bear-proof bins.

If you encounter a bear on the streets of your town or on your property, stay calm, and don’t spread the news around town—it could attract unwanted crowds! Slowly move away and always try to leave space and an escape route for the bear, encouraging others to do the same. As soon as possible, report the bear’s presence to the nearest Carabinieri station or park rangers.

Conservation also needs our creativity. Participate in public meetings or ask for them to be organized. Engage openly and civilly with the local administration and protected areas. Unity is strength, and it makes a difference. Encourage your neighbors to follow the same behaviors to increase both your and their safety. If you have many chickens that can’t fit in a single bear-proof coop, consider building a compliant coop with a neighbor to save on costs and better protect your animals.

For the future of the bear, every small action counts. Spread knowledge, raise awareness, and make a difference.

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