Vermont wildlife officials say bear sightings are no cause for alarm

Multiple black bear sightings in South Burlington doesn't mean there are more bears or cause for alarm this bear season. 

A dispatcher with the Vermont State Police said she has been receiving more calls about bear sightings than usual, especially around South Burlington. 

Forrest Hammond, all things black bear expert for the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, said no matter where you live in Vermont you should expect to see a bear. 

Over time black bears moved from the mountains to the lower elevation areas like South Burlington in search of more food, he said.

It's possible that the bears are hungrier this year making  leading to them more willing to turn to human sources of food, Hammond said.

Last year there was a delayed green up of the usual vegetation bears feed on and then a drought that dried up more of the natural foods bears rely on.

To help avoid a bear in the yard, people should look for things that may attract them, like trash, compost and bird feeders.

The first thing a bear will go for in a neighborhood is a bird feeder, so they should be removed, so as to not attract bears, he said. 

Contact Sawyer Loftus at 802-660-1860 or sloftus@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @sawyerloftus18.