With little food in the mountains, bears are coming into Ashland looking for a meal

ASHLAND, Ore. – Mountain berries, a sought-after food source for bears are scarce or non-existent, so some are plying Ashland neighborhoods looking for food.

The sightings of bears in town in late August is due to hunger from lack of forage – it is not the normal bear "eat-a-thon" that begins later in September and October when bears are fattening up for winter. With a dismal snowpack this past winter and lack of spring rainfall, berries have not been productive this summer.

Historically, bears have plied neighborhoods in the northwest part of Ashland nearest the urban-wildland interface during the fall eat-a-thon and the spring food fest. Bears have now been sighted in the southern parts of town and closer to Interstate 5.

ODFW has received reports of bears invading backyard chicken coops and rummaging through trash cans looking for food. Ashland residents are encouraged to follow the BearWise Basics to help keep bears at bay:

• Never feed or approach bears.
• Secure food, garbage and recycling.
• Remove bird feeders now that bears are active in the city.
• Never leave pet food outdoors.
• Clean and store grills.
• Alert neighbors to bear activity.

ODFW also encourages people to continue reporting bear sightings on the Ashland wildlife tracker web page. Check ODFW's webpage for more tips on keeping Oregon's black bears wild.