Nuisance wildlife could visit Benton County
Posted on Saturday, June 9, 2007
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/49891/
BENTON COUNTY — The two black bears found in Springdale and Fayetteville last month became local media celebrities, but “ nuisance wildlife” is nothing new in northwest Arkansas.
In fact, a much less reported black bear was caught in a Siloam Springs backyard May 26.
Wildlife officials believe the late frost killed off some of the food that the young bears would normally eat, forcing them to forage elsewhere for food. The bears are considered medium-size and are about 1 year old, weighing 60 to 70 pounds.
“ It’s going to be a big nuisance-bear year this year, ” said Matthew Melson, wildlife biologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. “(The foraging ) is normal behavior for the bear. They are looking for food and are hungry. The trouble comes when they come into town.
“ I would like to drive home for people, though, that it’s nothing to worry about, ” Melson continued. “ Dogs not on a leash can be more of a problem. ”
Melson said that if someone spots a bear — or any wild animal — they shouldn’t try to pet it or capture it themselves. Keeping items that attract the bears and other wildlife away from the outside of the home is the best way to keep the bears from coming close to a home.
“ Hummingbird feeders bring them in, leaving dog food out, leaving garbage out too long, ” he listed. “ Compost heaps also attract them. ”
Melson said the bears being found do not live in the area.
“ There’s no suitable habitat in Benton County, ” he said. “ What we have here are transients. ”
Bears are not the most common animal the Game and Fish Commission handles.
“ We deal with anything from skunks to foxes, ” Melson said.
Melson said people can call the commission’s main number, (800 ) 364-4263, and a local wildlife representative will be dispatched.
Another way that the commission can be contacted is through help from local lawenforcement agencies. Police Chief James Allen said the Bentonville Police Department fields calls about all kinds of animals. An officer is dispatched, and a determination is made on whether the Game and Fish Commission needs to be contacted.
The Police Department has a permit to handle certain fur-bearing animals, he said. Also, if the situation is an injured deer, the police can use a duty weapon to destroy the dying animal without the commission’s help.
“ It’s so the Game and Fish Commission doesn’t have to come out for everything, ” Allen said.
Allen said he hasn’t heard any recent reported bear sightings, but there is a family of foxes that have a den on the north end of town, as well as many other small wildlife living in the area.