Bears also are attracted to fruit, melon rinds or other tasty items in mulch or compost piles. Beehives attract bears, especially right after bruins come out of hibernation in the spring and during the peak honey production period in late summer and fall. You can protect your bees, honey and equipment if you surround hives with bear-deterrent fences. Contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission for more information about fencing. Black bears are also attracted to sweet and field corn, especially in the milk stage.
Bears can devastate cornfields.
Bears that frequent these areas often loose their natural fear of humans. Bears drawn to these places often take the next step, the one that puts them in close proximity to human dwellings. These are the bears that sometimes climb onto porches or break into houses to investigate enticing smells. Other times they raid bird feeders, clean out dog dishes, kill domestic animals or rifle through garbage containers. If a bear is visiting your property, there are two possible courses of action.