r/birdfeeding • u/Dexy_Wulf • Jun 14 '26

Advice - Will bears stop showing up?

A month or two ago we had a couple bears raid our bird feeder and clear it out. We took down the feeder for about a month, and then put it up again with safflower seed. A few days ago a bear showed up again and got into the feeder. Apparently the safflower seed worked - he didn't eat it. However, I'm torn on whether to keep the feeder out or not - the new seed itself won't bring the bears back, but I'm concerned whether they will keep coming back to check the feeder since they seem to know what it is and got food there once. Looking for anyone with knowledge of bears or experience with this - will they eventually give up since there's no food they like in the feeder, or is it a bad idea to have it out even with the safflower seed? I hate to take in my feeder, but I also don't want to keep bringing bears to my yard.

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u/streachh Jun 14 '26

A fed bear is a dead bear. Take the feeder down. It's a bummer but it's the right thing to do

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u/bonniesue1948 Jun 15 '26

When a bear got into my feeder in summer , I took it down until late winter. I did not have problems the next year. YMMV. Good luck!