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Ways to Secure Garbage   web  |  pdf

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Created by Real Bear Experts [not A.I.] since 2018

From the BearWise Article Bank

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What’s on the bear menu? Everything

Bears are attracted to anything that smells; it doesn’t even need to smell good. Garbage, compost piles, dirty diapers, pizza boxes, empty beverage cans...to a hungry black bear, it all smells like something good to eat. Bears are curious and always exploring. If a bear follows its nose to a ...

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The Bear Facts

black bear and cub crossing highway

What bears do in October

October at a Glance: Hyperphagia is in full-swing. Bears may be awake and searching for food up to 20 hours a day. Many bears also look for den sites. Some pregnant females may den up by the end of the month. As days shorten, vehicle collisions rise.    Bears Still ...

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BearWise in the News

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Nearly triple the number of bears euthanized this year in Smoky Mountains (TN, October 2026)

Nearly triple the number of bears euthanized this year in Smoky Mountains

October 1, 2026  |  Yahoo News
TN

Tags: October 2026, Tennessee
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Black Bear activity increases in Maryland as they prepare for hibernation (MD, October 2026)

Black Bear activity increases in Maryland as they prepare for hibernation

October 1, 2026  |  The Garrett County Republican
MD

Tags: Maryland, October 2026
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Black bears could be spotted more often as appetites spike, NC wildlife officials warn (NC, October 2026)

Black bears could be spotted more often as appetites spike, NC wildlife officials warn

October 5, 2026  |  Yahoo News
NC

Tags: North Carolina, October 2026
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Wildlife officials provide safety tips, saying black bears’ appetites now at seasonal high (NC, October 2026)

Wildlife officials provide safety tips, saying black bears’ appetites now at seasonal high

October 6, 2026  |  ABC 13 News
NC

Tags: North Carolina, October 2026
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When Bears and Vehicles Collide (CA/NV, October 2026)

When Bears and Vehicles Collide

October 6, 2026  |  Tahoe Daily Tribune
CA/NV

Tags: California, Nevada, October 2026
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Man, dog injured in encounter with bear in northeastern Minnesota (MN, October 2026)

Man, dog injured in encounter with bear in northeastern Minnesota
October 6, 2026  |  Hometown Source
MN

Tags: Minnesota, October 2026
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Not all black bears are black. The American black bear is a species (Ursus americanus); common colors include black, brown and cinnamon. Learn how to tell the difference between black bears and grizzlies.

infographic: How to tell a black bear from a grizzly

BearWise Brief: Meet the American Black Bear

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BearWise Brief:
Meet the American Black Bear

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