Black Bear Encounters at Pocono Properties Are Rising — Here's What to Do
Black bear sightings in the Pocono Mountains have been increasing for years. As development pushes into bear habitat, more Pocono homeowners are dealing with bears that have learned to associate human properties with food.
Pennsylvania's Black Bear Population Is Growing
Pennsylvania is home to an estimated 20,000 black bears (*Ursus americanus*) — one of the highest population densities in the eastern United States. The Pocono Mountains, particularly Monroe, Pike, and Wayne counties, sit within the heart of Pennsylvania's core bear range.
Bear sightings at residential properties have been increasing steadily for a decade, driven by two converging factors: a growing bear population and expanding human development into what was recently bear habitat. As Pocono Mountain communities grow — new vacation rentals, year-round residents moving from metro areas — encounters are becoming more frequent and more complex.
Why Bears Come to Your Property
Black bears are calorie-driven opportunists. They are extraordinarily intelligent animals with excellent memory, and once a bear discovers a reliable food source at a property, it will return — often repeatedly. The caloric math drives this behavior:
- A standard residential trash can contains up to 20,000 calories — the equivalent of what a bear needs to consume in an entire day of foraging in the wild
- A typical bird feeder holds 2,000–5,000 calories
- An unsecured BBQ grill with grease residue can attract bears repeatedly
Common attractants at Pocono properties:
• Unsecured garbage: The #1 bear attractant by a significant margin
• Bird feeders: PA Game Commission recommends removing ALL bird feeders from May through November in bear country
• Pet food left outdoors: Dog and cat food should never be left outside overnight
• BBQ grills: Grease traps, drip pans, and residue on grates attract bears even when you can't smell it
• Compost: Open compost bins with food scraps
• Fruit trees and berry bushes: Natural attractants, especially in fall
• Garden vegetables: Corn, strawberries, squash
Understanding Habituation — The Real Danger
Habituation is the process by which a wild animal loses its natural fear of humans after repeated exposure without negative consequence. A habituated bear is one that will approach humans, ignore deterrents, and cannot be scared away from properties.
Here's what makes this dangerous: Pennsylvania Game Commission policy generally requires that habituated bears be killed. Once a bear has lost its fear of humans and is making regular contact with residential areas, it cannot be safely relocated — it will immediately return to the same behavior in the new location.
This is why the conservation message and the safety message are the same: do not allow bears to access food sources at your property. Doing so doesn't just create a nuisance — it creates a bear that may need to be euthanized.
Peak Seasons for Bear Activity at Properties
Late June – August (Early Summer)
Spring berry crops end in late June. Bears that have been foraging in the wild shift their attention to wherever they can find dense calories. This is when suburban bear activity spikes.
September – November (Pre-Hibernation)
Bears enter a phase called hyperphagia — a state of compulsive eating in preparation for winter dormancy. A bear in hyperphagia can consume 20,000 calories per day and will work harder to access food sources it might avoid at other times of year. This is when even well-managed properties can attract bears.
Signs a Bear Is Regularly Visiting Your Property
• Tracks in soft soil or mud near trash cans, grills, or garden areas
• Scat (large, often containing berry seeds or food remnants)
• Damaged, bent, or destroyed bird feeders or bird feeder poles
• Overturned or ripped trash cans
• Torn screens or door frames if a bear has investigated enclosed spaces
• Scratches or rubs on trees near the structure
Bear-Proofing Your Pocono Property
Trash Management
This is the single most impactful action. Options:
• Bear-resistant trash cans: Look for cans certified by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). Some municipalities now require them.
• Store trash in an enclosed garage until morning of pickup — never put it out the night before
• Electric fence around trash storage areas: Highly effective deterrent for properties with chronic issues
Bird Feeders
Remove bird feeders from May through November. No exceptions in active bear areas. This is not optional in Monroe, Pike, or Wayne County — it is PA Game Commission guidance.
Grills
- Clean the grill thoroughly after every use, including grease trap
- Store in a locked garage or shed when not in active use
- Never leave grease traps or drip pans unattended
Pet Food
Never leave pet food outdoors, especially overnight.
Electric Deterrence
For properties with persistent bear activity or valuable gardens, a properly installed electric fence is one of the most effective long-term deterrents.
When to Call vs. When to Wait
Call Pennsylvania Game Commission (1-833-PGC-WILD):
- A bear is inside a structure
- A bear is showing aggressive behavior toward people
- A bear appears injured
- A bear is active during daylight hours repeatedly despite no attractants present
Call a professional wildlife deterrent service:
- You want a property assessment to identify and eliminate all attractants
- You need a bear-resistant trash solution installed
- You want an electric fence consultation for a garden or compost area
Wait and manage attractants:
- A bear was seen in the yard but left on its own
- A bear investigated a trash area but nothing was accessible
- Sightings are infrequent and the bear showed no aggressive behavior
The Pocono Mountains are bear country. Coexistence is possible — but it requires removing the food rewards that bring bears close. Contact us for a property bear-proofing consultation. We help Pocono homeowners identify attractants, implement deterrents, and create properties that bears pass by rather than visit.