Woodstock’s bear task force is asking the town to require bear-resistant trash cans and to impose fines on those who don’t comply.
“One bear was shot and killed by a homeowner after it entered the home,” said bear task-force chair and council member-elect Anula Courtis at the December 19 meeting of the town board. “And why does this happen? Because these are serious issues, and they’re typically the culmination of bears gaining access to human-derived food. We might think we’re being kind to animals as we feed the bears, and then they can’t tell that one person fed them and the other doesn’t want them in their home or in their screen house, and it always ends up badly for the bear.”
The task force was formed over the summer in response to the DEC reaching out because of 50 reports of bear conflicts, the highest in the area. Six bears were euthanized in 2022.
The task force wants legislation mandating businesses and short-term rentals to use bear-resistant trash cans or closed dumpsters. Short-term rentals will need to post educational materials on bear attractants.
The revenue from fines for non-compliance should go to the bear task force for outreach and education, the task force said. It has used material supplied by the organization BearWise. It plans visits to schools and a children’s art contest to create a poster or magnet.
“We participated in the farm festival. Some of us went door-to-door and knocked on doors and said, Hey, here’s some materials, and do you mind posting this?” Courtis said. “We met with the Woodstock Environmental Commission. We were given their support. They announced the bear task force in their newsletter, and they support us this evening.”
Feeding bears, either intentionally or unintentionally, is never good for the bear. It is selfish to feed bears because they end up paying the price for it, Courtis said.
Courtis noted Woodstock may be the first town in New York to enact such a law.
Councilmember Bennet Ratcliff suggested consulting the Association of Towns.
Information is available on the task force’s Facebook page, which can be found at facebook.com/woodstockbeartaskforce or by searching for Woodstock Bear Task Force. Or go to the town website, woodstockny.org, and click on Bear Information on the links to the left.
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