Bird feeding brings birds, beauty, and joy into our yards, but in Colorado Springs, it also requires an awareness of bears.

Black bears can appear throughout much of our community, including neighborhoods where residents may not expect to see them. Seed, suet, and hummingbird feeders can provide a significant food reward, and a bear that successfully reaches food may return repeatedly.

Responsible feeding means understanding the risks, preventing bears from accessing food, and knowing when feeders need to come down.

Is It Legal to Feed Birds in Bear Country?

Feeding songbirds is legal, but intentionally feeding or baiting bears is illegal in Colorado. Leaving bird feeders, garbage, or other attractants accessible to bears can also violate state law and local ordinances.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends removing bird feeders during the months when bears are active. Most Colorado bears are active from approximately mid-March through early November, and CPW specifically recommends removing feeders from April through November.

If a bear continually visits, reaches a feeder, or receives a food reward, remove all feeders immediately. Continuing to provide accessible food can endanger you, your neighbors, and the bear.

A food-conditioned bear may lose its natural caution around people, damage property, and create a serious public-safety concern. Preventing access is one of the most important things we can do to protect bears.

Learn more from Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Living With Bears resources.

Do Bird Feeders Attract Bears?

Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell and investigate many potential food sources.

A bear may initially enter a yard because it smells:

• Garbage or recycling
• Pet food
• A barbecue grill or grease
• Compost
• Ripening or fallen fruit
• Outdoor refrigerators or freezers
• Livestock or chicken feed
• Bird seed, suet or hummingbird nectar

A bird feeder may not always be what originally draws a bear into the neighborhood. However, once the bear discovers the food, it may add that yard to its regular search for meals.

This is sometimes described as a bear’s “restaurant route.” The goal is to prevent your home from becoming a reliable stop on that route.

When Should Bird Feeders Come Down?

Remove all accessible seed, suet, and hummingbird feeders if:

• A bear repeatedly investigates your feeding station
• Bears are commonly active in your immediate neighborhood
• Food is accumulating where a bear can reach it
• Feeders cannot be made inaccessible
• A bear begins associating your property with food
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife or local authorities advise feeder removal

If bears are active during the day, taking a break from bird feeding is especially important. Birds will continue finding natural food even though you may miss seeing them at your feeders.

There is no single waiting period that is appropriate for every situation. The objective is to interrupt the bear’s routine and remove any expectation of finding food at your home.

Can a Bird-Feeding Station Be Made Bear-Resistant?

Bear-resistant equipment can significantly limit or prevent a bear’s access to bird food when it is selected, positioned, and installed correctly.

However, bear-resistant does not mean that a bear will never smell the food or investigate the property. Even an inaccessible feeder may attract attention if seed accumulates beneath it or food is stored improperly.

Any bear-resistant system requires:

• Correct installation
• Sufficient height and distance from climbing structures
• Regular inspection
• Careful cleanup beneath feeders
• Secure indoor food storage
• Continued monitoring for bear activity

If a bear continues visiting despite these precautions, the responsible option is to take the feeders down.

Bear-Resistant Winch Pole Systems

We carry a 14-foot bear-resistant pole system that allows feeders to be raised and lowered using a winch. The feeders can be lowered for filling and maintenance, then raised high enough to remain effectively out of a bear’s reach.

Proper installation is critical. The bottom of every feeder must remain high enough above the ground, including accumulated winter snow, and the system must be positioned away from trees, decks, roofs, and other structures a bear could climb.

A tall pole also needs to be securely installed and strong enough to support the feeders, food, and local weather conditions.

Heavy-Duty Steel Feeders

Heavy-duty steel feeders with small feeding ports can make it extremely difficult for a bear to access the food, even if the animal reaches the feeder.

Steel construction can withstand more pressure and chewing than lightweight plastic or wood. Small ports also limit the amount of food a bear can obtain.

These feeders provide another layer of resistance, but they should not be treated as a substitute for proper height, placement, and cleanup. A bear may still damage the feeding station or receive food that has fallen to the ground.

Suspended Feeders and Pulley Systems

Another option is to suspend feeders beyond a bear’s reach using a properly designed wire and pulley system.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends that an inaccessible feeder be positioned at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet away from trees or other structures a bear could climb. The Wild Birds Unlimited franchise guidance recommends additional clearance, with the bottoms of feeders approximately 12 to 13 feet above the ground, especially where snow accumulation may reduce the effective height.

Suspended systems must use appropriately rated materials and secure anchor points. They should be installed where lowering, filling, and cleaning the feeders can be done safely.

Can Hot-Pepper Bird Food Discourage Bears?

Bears are mammals and are sensitive to capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers feel hot. Hot-pepper bird food may discourage bears, just as it can discourage squirrels, raccoons, and deer.

When a bear first encounters hot-pepper food, it may still investigate or taste it before learning to avoid it. Individual bears also respond differently. A hungry bear may tolerate something unpleasant when natural food is scarce.

Hot pepper should be viewed as an additional deterrent, not the only protection between a bear and a food reward. Combine it with inaccessible feeders, secure storage, tidy feeding, and close monitoring.

Never spray bear spray onto a feeder or surrounding objects. Bear spray is intended for emergency personal protection and can create an attractant after it dries.

Handle hot-pepper bird food carefully. Avoid touching your eyes or face, wash your hands after use, and keep the food away from children and pets.

Choose Tidy Bird Foods

Food beneath a feeder is still a bear attractant, even when the feeder itself is out of reach.

Tidy feeding options include:

• Sunflower chips
• No-mess blends
• Foods without unwanted filler ingredients
• Hot-pepper bird foods
• Trays or seed catchers that are emptied and cleaned regularly

Suet and peanuts have strong scents and can be especially attractive to bears. If there is bear activity nearby, do not offer them from an accessible feeding station.

Safflower may discourage some bears, but hulls can accumulate beneath the feeder. It still requires frequent cleanup.

Our guide to the best bird seed for Colorado Springs birds can help you choose a high-quality food that birds are more likely to eat instead of discarding.

Prevent Food From Accumulating

Inspect the area beneath your feeders every day when bears may be active.

Remove:

• Spilled bird food
• Seed hulls
• Dropped pieces of suet
• Fallen seed-cylinder pieces
• Fermented hummingbird nectar
• Food trapped in grass, rocks, or landscaping

A patio-base feeding station can be moved periodically to make cleanup easier and prevent food from accumulating in one location. It may also be less likely to bend or break than some permanently mounted lightweight poles if a bear investigates it.

Trays can reduce the amount of food reaching the ground, but trays also need to be emptied and cleaned. They should never be allowed to become an open feeding platform for a bear.

Follow our backyard bird-care guide for additional advice about maintaining clean feeders and fresh food.

Bring Feeders Inside at Night

Bears are frequently more active from evening through early morning. Bringing feeders inside each night and returning them in the morning may reduce access when there is general bear activity in the area.

Store the feeders in a genuinely secure indoor location. A screened porch, open shed, vehicle, or easily entered garage may not be sufficient.

Nighttime removal is a risk-reduction strategy, not a guarantee. Bears may also be active during the day. If a bear begins visiting during daylight hours, remove the feeders completely and take a break from feeding.

Store Bird Food Securely

Bird food should be stored indoors in a sturdy, airtight container where a bear cannot reach it.

Do not store bird food:

• On a porch
• Inside a screened enclosure
• In an unsecured shed
• In a vehicle
• Beside an open garage door
• In a container a bear can open or break

A secure container helps control scent and protects food from moisture, insects, and rodents, but the container itself must still be kept somewhere inaccessible to bears.

Manage Other Backyard Attractants

Removing a bird feeder may not solve the problem if other food and scent attractants remain.

Garbage and Recycling

Keep garbage indoors or inside an approved bear-resistant container. Clean garbage and recycling containers regularly to reduce odors, and do not leave food or trash inside a vehicle.

Barbecue Grills

Burn food residue from grills, clean grease traps, and store grills securely when possible.

Pet Food

Feed pets indoors and store their food indoors. Do not leave food bowls outside or on screened porches.

Compost

Use a secure composting system. Avoid adding meat, fish, animal waste, and strongly scented food scraps that may attract bears.

Fruit Trees

Pick fruit as it ripens and remove fallen fruit before it begins rotting on the ground.

Managing the entire property is more effective than focusing only on the bird feeder.

 

What Should You Do If a Bear Enters Your Yard?

Stay calm and keep your distance. Bring children and pets indoors, and never approach or corner the bear. Make sure it has a clear escape route.

From a secure location, you may make your presence known by yelling, clapping, blowing a whistle, or making other loud noises. Never place yourself between a bear and its exit.

If a bear refuses to leave, repeatedly returns, damages property, or threatens people or pets, contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 303-297-1192. Call 911 if a bear enters an occupied home or someone is in immediate danger.

Do not allow a bear to become comfortable around people or receiving a food reward.

 

Can You Attract Birds Without Feeders?

Yes! If you need to remove feeders, you can still create a yard that welcomes birds.

Consider adding:

• Native flowering plants
• Seed-bearing plants
• Hummingbird-friendly container gardens
• Trees and shrubs that provide natural food
• Nest boxes appropriate for local birds
• A small brush pile where suitable
• Shelter and natural cover

Bird baths and water features provide valuable water for birds and other backyard wildlife. If a bear begins visiting the water repeatedly or behaves aggressively, remove or temporarily disable the water source and follow local wildlife guidance.

These habitat features can support birds without concentrating large amounts of calorie-rich food in one location.

Bird Feeders and Bears: Frequently Asked Questions:

Do hummingbird feeders attract bears?

Yes. Hummingbird nectar contains sugar and can attract bears. Treat hummingbird feeders with the same care as seed and suet feeders when bears are active.

Are bears attracted to suet?

Yes. Suet has a strong scent and high calorie content. It should not be offered from an accessible feeder when there is bear activity nearby.

Can bears smell stored bird seed?

Yes. Bears have an extraordinary sense of smell. Store bird food in an airtight container inside a secure indoor location.

Will hot-pepper food keep every bear away?

No. Hot pepper may discourage bears, but individual responses vary. A hungry or food-conditioned bear may continue investigating. Hot pepper should be combined with inaccessible feeders, tidy feeding, and secure storage.

Is a steel bird feeder bear-proof?

Heavy-duty steel construction and small feeding ports can make food extremely difficult for a bear to access. However, the feeder may still attract attention or be damaged. It works best as one part of a properly designed bear-resistant station.

How high should a bear-resistant feeder be?

Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends positioning feeders at least 10 feet above the ground and 10 feet from climbable structures. Additional height provides more protection, especially where accumulated snow could allow a bear to reach higher.

Can I feed birds during winter?

Bears are usually less active during winter, but some remain active or delay denning. Continue watching for bear activity, maintain sufficient feeder height, and never assume that the calendar alone guarantees bears are absent.

Should I remove my feeders after seeing a bear?

If a bear approaches, reaches, or repeatedly investigates your feeding station, remove all accessible seed, suet, and hummingbird feeders. Clean up spilled food and secure stored bird food indoors.

A properly installed bear-resistant system may keep food effectively out of reach, but a bear that continues visiting should never be allowed to associate your home with an available food reward.

How long should feeders remain down?

There is no universal waiting period. Keep feeders down long enough to interrupt the bear’s routine and until there is no continuing activity suggesting the bear expects to find food at your property. Follow any instructions provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Who should I call about a bear?

Contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife at 303-297-1192 if a bear repeatedly visits, refuses to leave, damages property, or creates a safety concern. Call 911 if a bear enters an occupied home or someone is in immediate danger.

 

Let Us Help You Feed Birds Responsibly

Every property and bear situation is different. Visit Wild Birds Unlimited of Colorado Springs at 2450 Montebello Square Drive to discuss bear-resistant bird-feeding options, including tall winch pole systems, heavy-duty steel feeders, hot-pepper foods, and tidy no-mess blends.

Bring photographs and measurements showing your proposed feeder location, surrounding trees, decks, buildings, slopes, and other structures. We can help you consider whether a bear-resistant system is appropriate and how it should be positioned.

If bears are already receiving food or repeatedly visiting, removing your feeders takes priority. Protecting bears from food conditioning is part of responsible backyard bird feeding.

For help with squirrels, raccoons, and deer, visit our guide to wildlife-resistant bird feeding in Colorado Springs.