With a growing concern over the presence of Black Bears in residential areas, the NY State Dept. Of Environmental Conservation will hold it's final neighborhood meeting on the topic tonight.

The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Lancaster Municipal Building, 5423 Broadway, Lancaster

  "We want people to let the bears go about thier lives" says Tim Spierto with the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, who has hosted two earlier Buffalo area meetings this past week. 

WBEN Online Photo Album 
Bears around Buffalo 
 
 Black Bears are being spotted more often in residential- albeit rural- areas. Including thess one spotted off Willlardshire Road in the town of Aurora, and in the Town of Alden. Click the headline above to see a collection of listener photos

If you have similar photos to add, e-mail them to newsroom@wben.com
 

Facts About Bear Behavior
Courtesy: NYS Dept. Environmental Conservation
 
Bears are Curious - They spend a great deal of time exploring for food, and this can bring them close to humans.

Bears are Intelligent - Bears learn from experience. If an activity results in food, they will repeat that activity. If an encounter with a human is negative, they learn to avoid humans. Also if an encounter with a human doesn't result in a reward (food), they will not have any reason to have contact with humans.

Feeding Bears Creates "Bad" Bears - When bears learn to obtain food from humans, they can become bold and aggressive.

Feeding Bears is Bad for Bears - Bear's natural foraging habits and behavior can be changed. Usually solitary, bears can be concentrated in areas causing stress, injuries from physical conflicts, and the spread of diseases. Often when feeding on garbage or camper's supplies bears will eat unhealthy materials such as soap, shaving cream, insect repellant, food packaging, etc.

Never deliberately feed bears and avoid unintentionally feeding bears. If you avoid attracting and rewarding bears, you, your property and the bears will all benefit.