Fish and Game urges holding off on bird-feeding season

CONCORD — State Fish and Game is asking residents not to rush the arrival of bird-feeding season this fall.

The Granite State’s bear population is actively preparing for its denning period and on the move in search of high-fat, protein-rich food sources to sustain them through the winter. As a result, bears in some areas are turning to residential areas for food, and officials are asking the public to be both proactive and responsible by holding off on putting out bird feeders until December. Increasingly mild autumns and the often-late arrival of winter conditions warrant adjustments to prevent human-bear conflicts.