I Fought the Bears and the Bears Won!
The battle began about eight years when I noticed that almost everyone I knew was feeding wild birds. Articles appeared in numerous nature publications explaining how to feed, when to feed and what to feed to attract the most “desirable” species.
A common blue jay was out, a cardinal was in. The goal was also to make a sighting of a rare bird that had just by-passed your neighbor’s yard for yours. Along with the thrill of recording each new species, I began to feel a moral obligation to save all the feathered creatures in my yard from certain starvation during our cold New Hampshire winters.
My first attempt at feeding was an instant success. I purchased a thistle seed feeder and flocks of gold finches rushed to my deck. The first winter came and went without incident, except for an occasional crash to the deck (me) during those early morning feeder refills. No broken bones, but a few near misses taught me to check for black ice before venturing out on to the deck without my “creepers.”
Unfortunately, a few birds crashed as well. Sometimes, huge waves of birds would take off in an instant and invariably one would hit the window and crash to the deck. Luckily, most of the crashes resulted in just a stunned bird, which I would put into a cardboard box where it could recover. After an hour or two in the box, it would usually be ready to rejoin the flock. There were, however, a few real casualties. I justified each death by thinking of the hundreds of birds I was confident I had saved from certain starvation. Were a few deaths too high a price to pay for the survival of so many?
By spring, I had 20 or 30 birds waiting for their turn at the now two feeders. The male goldfinches were coming into their beautiful gold and black plumage, a truly amazing sight. This first attempt was such a success I increased the number of feeders to include one with sunflower seeds to attract a wider variety of birds. After that, I decided to continue feeding right through the summer.
I read that you must take the feeders in every night once the bears leave their dens in the spring, as they start looking for food, and bird feeders are a quick and easy source. I did take the feeders in every night—well, almost every night. Unfortunately, bears, either with their keen sense of smell or their knowledge of human fallibility, knew exactly the nights I left the feeders hanging on the deck.
One night I awoke to a loud noise. The whole family trooped downstairs to investigate. We found a huge bear on the deck, so large its back was even with the deck railing, pulling down all the feeders. Lights, dog barking—nothing alarmed the bear as he enjoyed the sunflower seeds. I knew when he knocked down the third and last feeder with his powerful paw that I would need to buy more duct tape.
In the past eight years, I’ve lost nine feeders. One time, the feeder with the iron support rod disappeared; I never saw either the eight-foot rod or the feeder again. I still have a graveyard of bird feeders hanging from the rafters in my basement, each in a different stage of repair. Some have perches missing. Others I’ve repaired with duct tape or coat hangers. The ones beyond repair I’ve kept for spare parts. One remains in pristine condition. Why? Because it\s the only one never raided by bears.
Two years ago, I surrendered to the bears and stopped feeding the birds. Although no one single event made me raise the white flag and end the fight, I was moved by the news of yet another bear, accustomed to an easy meal at feeders, shot for invading a human space.
Whatever the reason, I decided to attract birds the way that nature does. I planted shrubs, trees and other plants that will provide the birds with food and shelter.
I doubt I’ll ever hang bird feeders again. As much as I enjoyed seeing a flock of goldfinch taking to wing, or a single golden bird pecking the small thistle seeds from a feeder, I’ve decided to let Mother Nature provide them food as she has done for millions of years.
by Linda Shaw, UNH Cooperative Extension Master Gardener
For more information call the UNH Cooperative Extension's Family, Home & Garden Center's Info-line (toll free) at 1-877-398-4769 or send us an email. Volunteers are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday 9:00am to 2:00 p.m.
4/13/06
