LEOPOLD, Mo. (WSIL) -- A baby bear was recently spotted by fire personnel in Bollinger County, near the intersection of 418 County Road and N Highway outside Leopold.
The Leopold Fire Protection District advises that a mother bear is likely close by as well. They urge everyone to exercise extreme caution and maintain a safe distance from the area.
The Missouri Department of Conservation urges people to not feed the bears to help control them from moving into populated areas. They also offered up other tips to keep bears away...
- Bring in bird feeders when bears are active (March � November). If you choose to feed birds and try to keep the feeder out of a bear’s reach, just remember that even the smell of food can attract a bear.
- Keep trash in secure containers or store in a secure outbuilding. Put trash out the morning of pick-up rather than the night before. Although not bear-proof, even just using a ratchet strap to keep your container closed can help discourage a bear.
- Electric fencing can be a great tool for securing bee hives, chicken coops, and even dumpsters. It is very important to maintain your fence and keep it properly charged.
- Avoid feeding pets outdoors. If you must feed pets outside, only feed the portion they will eat and remove any unused feed. Only store feed in secure containers, in secure outbuildings, or behind electric fencing.
- Remember, a fed bear is a dead bear. As bears become accustomed to human food sources, they may lose their fear of people and may need to be killed.
- Prevention is key. Keep bears wild and do not attract them with unnatural food sources!
- Once a bear has accessed food (bird feeder, trash, pet food, etc) remove or secure the attractant immediately and keep it inaccessible to bears! Chances are high that a bear will return. Don’t let the bear develop a habit of getting food before action is taken. Prevention is key!
