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First Posted: 8/28/2013 Have you recently seen a bear in your backyard? Or do you know one was around, because the contents of your garbage can ended up all over your lawn? Has your bird feeder been destroyed overnight? More and more residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania are becoming acquainted with black bear behavior, whether they like it or not.
Victor Rosa, Wildlife Conservation Officer, will present Bears in Our Backyard at the Dietrich Theater Saturday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. This free program is open to the public and all are invited.
Rosa will explain why black bear sightings are becoming common occurrences in Northeastern Pennsylvania and talk about black bears, from den locations to bear cubs to how bears not only survive but thrive, thanks to urbanization.
Pennsylvania&#8217;s bear population has been increasing for years. Recent population estimates have ranged from 8,000 to 10,000 bears. 
Experts say black bears will consume almost anything. They will eat human food, garbage, bird feeder offerings, pet foods and livestock feed. They also raid cornfields and destroy beehives. Once bears find easily accessible food sources, whether on a farm or in a housing development, they overcome their wariness of people and visit regularly. Often the only way to get rid of these unwanted, late-night visitors is to remove the food source for about a month. Even then, there are no guarantees.
Not only will Victor Rosa give tips like these, but he will also tell humorous anecdotes about human/bear encounters, as well as offer a question and answer session after the presentation.
Tickets for this free presentation are available at the ticket booth or can be reserved by calling (570) 996-1500. They will be available at the door as long as they last.

Learn about bears at the Dietrich Theater