South Kingstown couple spots black bear battling bird feeder

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — For Paul and Ellen Jones, black bear sightings are nothing new.

The couple, from South Kingstown, Rhode Island, informed WPRI that they’ve noticed a black bear of their yard twice over the previous two years.

And this yr proved to be no totally different.

“I heard a noise outdoors, and once I acquired to the door, I noticed the bear simply standing there,” Ellen Jones recalled. “It confirmed its enamel and growled at me.”

The bear was primarily targeted on getting the hen seed out of the couple’s hen feeder of their yard.

“The bear was massive, and when it stood up, it needed to be about 5 or 6 toes tall,” Paul Jones mentioned.

By the point the bear left, the hen feeder was lowered to items on their garden.

David Kalb, a biologist with the R.I. Division of Environmental Administration Division of Fish and Wildlife, informed WPRI black bears are the one species of bear which are discovered within the state.

Kalb mentioned black bears usually enterprise out round this time, however the bear that destroyed the Jones’ hen feeder is the primary reported sighting the DEM has acquired this yr.

“They’re on the lookout for no matter they’ll discover, so meaning in case you have hen feeders up, they’re going to sit down in entrance of your hen feeders and so they’re going to eat each final seed that’s in there till it’s gone,” Kalb defined.

This habits is regular, in accordance with Kalb, since bears are at all times usually searching for meals. He urged everybody to keep away from leaving hen feeders, amongst different meals sources, open air.

Kalb mentioned bears aren’t aggressive, so anybody who spots one shouldn’t panic.

“Typically, if you happen to make some noise while you’re within the woods, bears are going to listen to you or odor you lengthy earlier than you get near them,” Kalb defined. “Bears are a pure a part of our wildlife in Rhode Island and we should always admire them from a distance.”

Anybody who encounters a bear ought to make their presence identified by waving their arms or shouting on the bear. Kalb additionally instructed individuals by no means flip their again on a bear or try and feed one.

If Rhode Island residents spot a bear, Kalb recommends reporting it to the DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife.