# Dealing with a Problem Bear **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 8, 2026, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757 "2026-06-08T20:54:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/21 "2026-06-08T23:51:16Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Does that not happen any more? It does in NJ. That is exactly what Fish Game and Wildlife uses for nuisance bears. ---
**Author:** ![corudstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/73ab20/32.png) [@corudstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corudstr)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/22 "2026-06-08T23:51:20Z")
A good nozzle on your garden hose that can spray a long way is cheaper, safer, and just as effective as bear spray. They don’t like getting wet and sprayed in the face just as much as a person. There are also motion detector sprinklers that you can set up to spray when animals approach. Bear spray is a last resort option for remote locations. It has a very short range and you are almost certain to get at least a little wiff of it yourself when you use it. Like everyone else said the real problem is people feeding (on purpose or otherwise) bears, but once that has happened you need to train them that your house and yard is no fun. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/23 "2026-06-08T23:52:53Z")
I guess it’s a good thing that the bear population in Montana is robust enough that there are no longer places to relocate problem bears without them getting run off by the resident population. There is also the “fed bear is a dead bear” issue–once they associate humans with food they gravitate back to human food sources. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/24 "2026-06-08T23:53:05Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/25 "2026-06-08T23:54:41Z")
We’ve got grizzlies in our mountains. Not sure about the garden hose… Plus, the cats. Maybe Mountain Lions dislike water? Not going to ask. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/26 "2026-06-08T23:55:51Z")
Yeah. Feeding the bears is bad (see “A Libertarian Walks into a Bear” - about what happens when oppressive laws like “don’t feed the bears” are overturned by freedom-loving self-sufficient heroes) ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/27 "2026-06-09T00:00:47Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > There is also the “fed bear is a dead bear” issue–once they associate humans with food they gravitate back to human food sources. I really don’t want to give this wacko any more exposure so I won’t link to her YouTube channel, but here is a news story about one of my neighbors who is pretty much the nexus of our bear problem - she thinks they are her pets: [Black Bear Opens Homeowner’s Door](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT5LI21dY_4) ETA: the comments on YouTube disgust me. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/28 "2026-06-09T00:03:59Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > one of my neighbors who is pretty much the nexus of our bear problem Maybe the fish & game service can relocate her to a safe habitat? ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/29 "2026-06-09T00:08:36Z")
She has a long history - most of which has been utterly fruitless: [Judge says bear-feeding case may not belong in his court](https://www.njherald.com/story/news/2012/05/23/judge-says-bear-feeding-case/3984256007/) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/30 "2026-06-09T12:23:24Z")
In NH, it was joked that after a relocated bear is released it’s a race to see who gets back to the capture site first, the bear or the rangers. Relocation can work for a bear that’s not too far gone, but these bears sound too habituated for that to work. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/31 "2026-06-09T18:01:06Z")
> [@Thumper668](#): > > one of my neighbors who is pretty much the nexus of our bear problem - she thinks they are her pets: Send her a DVD of “Grizzly Man”. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/32 "2026-06-09T18:11:09Z")
Scary AF! I like the suggestions of sprinklers and firecrackers, but sounds like it’s going to be a long summer of watching out for bear trouble. How were they breaking into houses? Tearing doors off ? I’d want to strengthen entry points. Love your big windows, maybe add some blinds or curtains so they can’t watch you inside cooking? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/33 "2026-06-09T18:42:23Z")
Apparently the bear entered through an unlocked door. Any unlocked door, screen door, window or unlocked car is a potential problem. Several times bears have gotten themselves shut in cars and pretty much trash the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/34 "2026-06-10T14:53:17Z")
I was sitting on my front porch reading a moment ago and I caught sight of the bear out of the corner of my eye, probably only 10 feet away or so. I yelled “go,” and backed up into the house. It immediately jumped off into the woods. What amazes me is how stealthy it approached. I heard nothing until it was right close to me. This is not going to end well. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/35 "2026-06-10T15:07:30Z")
As long as it ends badly for the bear and not some human, or your particular human. Now I’m wondering about the practicality of some sort of motion sensor hooked up to a loud noisemaker. At least loud enough to get your nose out of your book, if not loud enough to chase off the bear. It’s evident that your family cannot safely be outdoors other than with your head on a swivel searching for bear(s). Your neighbors are in the same risky status, but the only people you can protect is you. Other than by actively calling wildlife control at every sighting. And raising fuss at city council meetings. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/36 "2026-06-10T15:07:37Z")
Just today on Instagram mama bear and cubs hanging out on a lawn in Asheville with human family and dogs inside th house with noses pressed against the window watching. Comments were crazy with delight and wanting to hug and pet the bears, how wonderful and you’re so lucky yada. Family had bear proof straps on garbage cans. Not much else they could do I guess other than break up the bear party. But the cubs weren’t done playing. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/37 "2026-06-10T15:07:52Z")
I would call either the sheriff’s department or the state’s wildlife management agency. They will either have advice, or might come trap the bear and relocate it to a more remote area. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/38 "2026-06-10T15:34:51Z")
> [@Biotop](#): > > What amazes me is how stealthy it approached. I heard nothing until it was right close to me. > > This is not going to end well. Ugh. You are right. A bear voluntarily approaching a human has lost its natural fear of them, and now believes them to be a food source. Likely thanks to your idiot neighbor. I would contact your local Fish and Game officials, if only just to advise them of the encounter. The bear’s behavior is escalating, and they should know about that. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2026, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/39 "2026-06-10T15:37:04Z")
Sadly, that bear is gonna die. With any luck, no humans will die because of the bear, but the bear is doomed. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757/40 "2026-06-11T10:50:24Z")
We used to get quite a few bears up in the Colorado mountains. We where pretty remote. They used to break into out cars a few times a year. No damage but a few scratches. What I did was fire a large caliber revolver into the ground. That got their attention and they would scurry off. Might not be an option for you depending on where you live. Banging pots and pans and other noise didn’t work. .357 did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-a-problem-bear/1030757.md?page=3)