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Be aware of bears emerging from dens

A grizzly bear roams Yellowstone National Park shortly after emerging from its winter den in March 2013. (Yellowstone Tour Guides)

WILDLIFE WATCHING – Re-think your bird feeder placement and secure the garbage. Black bears and grizzly bears have started leaving their dens as spring weather has taken hold in the region.

Residents in bear country should avoid attracting bears by eliminating outside food sources. Pet food, garbage, bird feeders and feed for  chickens and livestock and livestock carcasses are attractants. The high country is still plugged with snow, leaving bears more concentrated in lower elevations.

After a long winter hibernation, bears are seeking out new grass and other vegetation to get their digestive systems up and running again, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Outdoors Blog." Read all stories from this blog