Bears Pack Food Before Winter; Secure Yours
Homeowners in bear-range New Jersey counties should lock up garbage and bird feeders before bears den for winter.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Wildlife
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Do you secure your trash and bird feeders to keep bears away?
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued bear-safety guidance as black bears pack in food before denning for winter. Bears have been reported in all 21 New Jersey counties, with the heaviest activity in northwest New Jersey, so residents in those areas should secure food sources now.
Why it matters
Black bears have a highly developed sense of smell and can detect food at long distances, so unsecured garbage, bird seed or camping supplies can draw them toward homes and campsites. Bears that come to associate people with food can become nuisance animals that damage property, which is why state officials are reminding residents of prevention steps this fall.
Feeding a bear is illegal in New Jersey and carries a fine of up to $1,000. Bird feeders should be hung from a free-hanging wire at least 10 feet off the ground and used only during daylight hours.
The players
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
The state agency that manages New Jersey's natural resources and wildlife, including its Fish & Wildlife bear program.
The details
Officials recommend storing garbage in a certified bear-resistant container or one with a tight-fitting lid, kept in a garage, basement or sturdy shed. Bird feeders should be used only during the day and any spilled seed swept up daily. Warning signs that a person is too close to a bear include huffing, jaw-popping or swatting the ground; bears sometimes bluff charge when cornered, threatened or trying to steal food. Bear attacks are extremely rare.
Timeline
Fall: black bears pack in food before winter denning
The Home Front
Bear activity in New Jersey is concentrated in the northwest counties, where the state's bear-range outreach focuses. Homeowners in those areas face the same food-storage choices that determine whether nuisance bears become a property-damage problem.
Check whether your garbage container has a tight-fitting lid or is certified bear-resistant, and store it in a garage, basement or sturdy shed until pickup. If you use a bird feeder, bring it in at night and sweep up spilled seed daily.
The takeaway
Securing food sources before winter denning is the single most effective way to keep bears out of your yard. Keep garbage and bird seed secured, and never feed a bear, since doing so is illegal in New Jersey.
Further reading
For more on living alongside local animals, see our Wildlife coverage.
More information
Find bear-safety details on the NJDEP Fish & Wildlife bear information page, or call 1-877-927-6337 to report a bear sighting.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJ.
Live Poll
Do you secure your trash and bird feeders to keep bears away?
