Along with the daffodils and cherry tree blossoms the beginning of spring brings black bears out of hibernation. The first thing they go looking for is food. Resident should take simple precautions now to discourage the animals from becoming a nuisance near homes. Bears that learn to associate food with people often become a nuisance and sometimes even aggressive, and then must be euthanized to protect the public. Incidents involving garbage, bird feeders and nuisance behavior accounted for an overwhelming majority of the bear complaints reported to Wildlife Control professionals in the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife during the past seven years. During 2005, Fish and Wildlife logged 1,104 bear-related complaints. Of that total 75 percent were nuisance, garbage and bird feeder incidents. DEP Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson offers the following recommendations to minimize the potential for conflicts with black bears near homes. Never feed a black bear. Use bear-resistant garbage containers, if possible. Otherwise, store all garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and place them along the inside walls of your garage, or in the basement, a sturdy shed or other secure area. Put out garbage on collection day, not the night before. Wash garbage containers with a disinfectant solution at least once a week to remove odors. Draping rags soaked in bleach over your garbage bags also helps to eliminate odors. Avoid feeding birds, especially if you live in an area frequented by bears. If you choose to feed birds, do so during daylight hours only, between December 1 and April 1, when bears are least active. Suspend the bird feeder from a free-hanging wire, making sure it’s at least 10 feet off the ground. Bring the feeder indoors at night. Clean up spilled seeds and shells daily. Do not place meat or any sweet foods in compost piles. Clean up after pets. If you feed them outside, remember to pick up any leftover food and remove bowls after they have finished. Clean outdoor grills thoroughly after each use. Grease and food residue can attract bears. Report bear damage, nuisance behavior or aggressive bears to the local police department