Bears are the largest living predators in the US. How does light affect your chances of meeting one?
Though the concept of a four to six-hundred pound moth is appealing, there’s a relatively low chance that a porch light would bring a bear to your doorstep. Continue reading on to find out why this is the case.
Are Bears Awake When it’s Dark Out?
It may surprise you that an animal so commonly associated with sleeping spends most of their time awake and active (when they’re not hibernating, of course). A majority of bear species sleep for only a few hours, and these small segments are usually right before dawn. So they essentially have the sleep schedule of the average college student.
That being said, Bears are in fact out roaming around while our street lights are on.
Why Would Bears Be Attracted to light?
The truth is, bears are relatively indifferent to light sources. And this actually makes a lot of sense once you take a look at their behavior and biology.
It’s not a very well known fact, but bears have extremely keen night vision. This isn’t surprising given the amount of time they spend active without sunlight. So they definitely wouldn’t be seeking out any light to obtain a better view of their surroundings.
Even though bears have exceptional eyesight, it’s not what they rely on. Bears have a great sense of hearing and an even better sense of smell. The Silvertip Grizzly, for example, has a nose that’s seven times more efficient at picking up scents compared to bloodhounds.
Therefore, what a bear can hear and smell is much more likely to determine where they go, as opposed to what they see. This is especially the case during nighttime hours.
So What Does Attract Bears?
Like every animal on earth, bears will actively seek out resources they can eat. And as a six-hundred pound omnivore that’s preparing to sleep for eight months straight, the menu’s selection is even larger than Denny’s. Here are just a few of the smells that can draw bears in from over a mile away:
- Any type of garbage
- Compost bins
- Food containers
- Dead animals
- Bird feeders
- Beehives
- Left out pet food
Do Lights Deter Bears?
After reading this far, you may be wondering “If lights don’t attract bears, do they instead have the opposite effect?”. The simple answer to that question is no, not really. An idle house or street light isn’t going to repel a bear in any way.
Now, a light triggered by some sort of motion sensor could temporarily frighten and deter a bear. Though, it would most likely only work a couple times, especially if the bear had already picked up the scent of something listed above.
So, if you ever find yourself in the middle of a bear encounter, the Jurassic Park flair technique might not be the best course of action. :)
