{"id":56366,"date":"2025-07-11T08:24:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T08:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/56366\/"},"modified":"2025-07-11T08:24:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T08:24:13","slug":"black-bears-seek-easy-meals-in-wood-river-valley-homes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/56366\/","title":{"rendered":"Black bears seek easy meals in Wood River Valley homes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Residents in the area are urged to secure their garbage bins and remove bird feeders or other sources of food to prevent attracting bears. <\/p>\n

BOISE, Idaho \u2014 Black bears are appearing in neighborhoods throughout the Wood River Valley, and wildlife officials said it’s because the animals are looking for an easy meal.<\/p>\n

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game<\/a> on Thursday said the bears<\/a> are foraging for ripe berries to pack on fat ahead of winter, but their incredible sense of smell is drawing them to homes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It’s due to left-out garbage, bird feeders, and even pet food that can attract the animal, according to Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG).<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s estimated that a bear\u2019s sense of smell is seven times stronger than a bloodhound\u2019s and can detect scents from miles away,” IDFG wrote in a news release. “That incredible ability helps them survive\u2014but it also draws them into places they don\u2019t belong, especially when human food sources are easily accessible.”<\/p>\n


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Idaho Fish and Game said that once a bear eats human food, the behavior is learned, and it is extremely difficult to change. And once it becomes accustomed it, “cannot simply be moved.”<\/p>\n

“Often, they\u2019ll return to the same spot\u2014or bring the problem to a new area,” officials wrote. “For public safety, Idaho Fish and Game may be forced to euthanize bears that repeatedly seek out human food sources.”<\/p>\n


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IDFG reminds the public of important steps to take while dealing with black bears in the Wood River Valley area:\u00a0<\/p>\n