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Be Bear Aware
Black Bear Information
Whether you are hiking, camping, or living in an area with bears, it is important to be informed on bear safety to keep you and your family safe.
Seeing a wild black bear is an exciting and memorable experience. When visiting, recreating or living in or near black bear country, it is always important to be aware that you may encounter a bear at any time. Most conflicts between people and black bears are the result of people approaching and feeding bears, or allowing a bear to obtain garbage and pet/livestock feeds. Learning the appropriate Black Bear Safety Techniques will minimize the possibility of an encounter.
You are responsible for your safety and the safety of the bears. Please help keep our black bears wild by not approaching or feeding them.
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Food Storage Order
In 2008, the Cibola National Forest issued a food storage order to protect bears.
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Staying Safe Around Bears
For more information about being safe around bears, visit nps.gov.
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Guide to Living with Wildlife
This guide to living with wildlife in the Sandia and Manzano Mountains contains tips on living with bears, visiting bear country, and black bears of New Mexico.
Black Bears at a Glance
Black bears can be found across most of North America, whereas grizzly/brown bears are found only in the northwestern states, Alaska and western Canada. Black bears that reside in the Southwest primarily live in the pine forests and chaparral(brush) zones, and occasionally wander into lower elevations.
- Colors: Black, brown, blond, or cinnamon.
- Size: Adults measure about 3 feet at shoulders and 5 to 6 feet when standing upright.
- Weight: Adults weigh 125 to 425 pounds. Males are generally larger than females.
- Lifespan: Approximately 20 years for wild bears.
- Eyesight: Similar to humans.
- Sense of Smell: Excellent, can span miles.
- Attributes: Very agile, climb trees well, good swimmers, and can run as fast as 35 miles per hour.
Healthy wild black bears rely on berries, insects, vegetation, fish and carrion to survive. They generally mate during May and early June. They hibernate primarily due to lack of food, usually between November and April, though this varies. Healthy mothers produce 1 to 2 cubs every 2-3 years.
- Bears should never obtain human food, pet/livestock feeds, or garbage. Bears that receive these "food rewards" may become aggressive towards humans or cause property damage. To protect people and their property, these bears may have to be destroyed.
- While wild bears have a natural fear of humans and will attempt to avoid people, in developed areas, fed bears do not!
- Wild bears rely on natural foods such as berries and fish. Fed bears will abandon vital food sources for human foods and garbage!
- Wild bears quickly become conditioned to handouts and will teach their cubs to do the same.
- Wild bears fed along roads tend to stay near the road, increasing vehicle-animal accidents.
- Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
- Carry bear pepper spray.
- Read all signs at the trailhead.
- Hike in a group, and keep children close at hand.
- Make your presence known (call out).
- Hike during daylight hours & stay on the trail.
- Watch for bear signs: scat, claw marks, diggings, logs or stumps torn apart, etc.
- Avoid taking pets, they may attract bears to you.
Bear Pepper Spray is not a substitution for following appropriate safety techniques.
- Bear pepper spray is not the same as personal defense spray, it must be E.P.A. registered.
- Bear pepper spray must contain 1.3%-2% capsaicin and related capsaicinoids. Suggested spray distance is at least 25 feet in a cloud pattern lasting 6 seconds or more.
- Always keep a clean camp.
- Use a designated camping area.
- Don't leave food out when not in use. Store it in bear-resistant storage unit, hard shelled vehicle or car trunk.
- Use bear-resistant trash receptacles.
- Set up tents with space between them.
- Keep pets on a leash.
- Keep your sleeping area, tent and sleeping bag completely free of food and food odors and personal products that are scented, like toothpaste, lotion, and makeup.
- Do not sleep in the same clothes you cooked in.
- Keep a flashlight and bear pepper spray readily available.
- Select a campsite away from berry patches, spawning streams and animal trails.
- Place sleeping tents at least 100 yards from food storage and cooking areas.
- Keep a flashlight and bear pepper spray readily available.
- Store all food, pet/livestock feeds, odorous items and garbage by hanging at least 10 feet from the ground and 4 feet from top and side supports.
- Strain food particles from dishwater. Pack everything out - never bury or burn garbage.
Black bears should always be considered unpredictable and potentially dangerous. A black bear will usually detect your presence and flee the area before you notice unless the bear has been conditioned to people and their foods.
- If a black bear is visible, but not close, alter your route so that you will move away from its area.
- If a black bear approaches, do not run. Remain calm, continue facing the bear and slowly back away. If the bear continues to approach, try to group together and pick up small children. Try to scare the bear away by shouting and acting aggressively.
- If a black bear attacks, it is suggested to fight back using everything in your power fists, sticks, rocks, and E.P.A. registered bear pepper spray.
- Minimize odors and the availability of food rewards throughout your yard and community.
- Put out garbage on the day of pick-up, not the night before. Store in sturdy building or place in a bear- resistant trash receptacle.
- Do not leave pet food out. Hang bird feeders out of reach of bears.
- Keep bar-b-ques clean and grease free. Store with livestock/pet feed inside a sturdy building.
- Pick all ripe fruit from the tree and surrounding ground as soon as possible.
- Vegetable gardens and compost piles may attract bears. Do not put meat, fish or other pungent scraps in compost pile. Add lime to reduce odors and accelerate decomposition.
- An electric fence is an effective way to keep bears out of orchards, gardens, compost piles, and beehives. Follow appropriate safety precautions.
- Bear activity may intensify in spring when bears are hungry and emerging from their dens, in the fall when bears are bulking up for hibernation, and during drought periods. This is due to the scarcity of natural foods.
Alerts & Warnings
- Termination of Mountainair RD Capilla Closure 03-03-04-25-02
- Sandia RD Cedro 4 Area Closure Order North of FSR 462 03-03-05-24-13
- Bear Trap Campground Remains Closed through December 31, 2025
- Discharging a firearm, air rifle, or gas gun is prohibited
- Termination of Order 03-03-02-25-01 WSMR Testing Closure
- Occupancy & Use Prohibitions Forest Order #03-03-00-23-03