How to Prevent Bears From Visiting Your Vacation Rental

Whether you own a vacation rental or you are just renting it, it is important to take precautions to keep bears away. Here are a few things listed that will help you prepare for your summer trip to Red River.

Bear Proof Your Home

• If your rental is in town you should always take your trash to the dumpster so that there is no smell coming from your home. Bears have a great sense of smell and will smell your food from miles away. Buying a bear-proof trash can that locks is the best trash can to have at your property if dumpsters aren’t nearby. These types of trash cans are more sturdy than others and will keep bears from getting into them and pulling all contents out. Double bagging your trash can also eliminate odors that would normally attract bears to your property.

• If you have a bird feeder out during the day, be sure to bring it inside at night. Bears are omnivores, meaning they eat meat and plants. If you do want to hang a bird feeder try to aim high, around 10 feet, up into the tree. If you notice something strange or see a bear around your bird feeder, take the feeder down for at least a month. It is highly advised to forgo the hummingbird feeders, as the sweet smell of the nectar is a sure bet you will have a visit from a bear in no time flat!
• Pet friendly properties are available and should take extra precautions. For example, do not leave your pets food outside, especially overnight as it could attract bears.
• Most of our properties have grills to use. If your property doesn’t have a grill, call our office and our staff can see if we can get one for you. It is important to clean the grill after each use, especially if it is in the evening. Getting rid of the small food particles and the smell of food will keep animals out of your grill and away from the home. We don’t want bears coming around at night or even during the day and getting into your belongings or the cabin you have rented.
  

Avoid Bears

• Make your presence known if there is a bear around you and he sees you. Bears can run faster than us humans, and if you start to run, they will most likely chase after you. Instead of running, raise your hands and move them slowly while walking backwards to where you came from. Never turn your back to a bear, as it might charge at you.
• Bring bear spray or you can stop by Williams Trading Post in town to purchase it. If there is a bear around you and you can’t seem to make it go away, grab your spray and spray it in the direction of the bear. This will spray a cloud of pepper spray between yourself and the bear.
• Do not leave any food or trash outside the house or in your car. This includes craft beer and your leftovers from the Red River Brewery.
• It is also important that everyone knows that having a corn feeder, like the ones people hunt with, is not allowed. It will attract all kinds of wildlife such as bears, deer, and even mice. Not only are mice dangerous to owners and guests, but mice can infest your home and the surrounding homes as well.

Your summer trip to Red River would be made with a bear sighting, but we want to make sure everyone is safe about it. Who doesn’t want to go home and tell all their friends that they saw a bear. Practice these ways to prevent bears from entering your home and you still may be lucky enough to see one walking by.