Bear Complaints Rise in NH

New Hampshire Fish and Game Officials are partially attributing the state’s rise in bear complaints to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports WCAX.

Andrew Timmins, the bear project leader in NH, has stated that dry weather has reduced natural food resources, which has pushed bears into residential areas. This has led to a rise in complaints from NH citizens.

Another possible factor, according to Timmins, is the pandemic. COVID-19 has led to more people staying home than usual, which has meant more garbage in outdoor garbage cans, which attract bears. Also, bird watchers have kept their feeders up longer into the summer.

Timmins is asking residents to secure trash receptacles and garbage bins, to remove their bird feeders, and bring in any pet food inside at night.