Bear Break-ins

January 12, 2023

Question: What should I do if a bear breaks into my home or business?

Answer: First and foremost, the best way to prevent break-ins is by properly storing food and garbage and keeping property entrances secure. This includes securing crawl spaces and other spaces underneath porches and decks that bears may use for winter dens. Bears are primarily scent-driven when seeking food, and improperly stored human food and trash is typically the root cause of bear break-ins and property damage. If you’ve experienced a break-in, please report it to CDFW by calling the regional office closest to you or by submitting a Wildlife Incident Report(opens in new tab). Reporting helps CDFW track conflict bear activity and supports property owners to prevent further damage. The property should be cleaned up and immediately secured to prevent further break-ins. CDFW staff is available to consult with property owners about best practices to help make homes or businesses less attractive to bears. If the damage to property is severe, CDFW staff may be able to conduct a site inspection and collect DNA evidence to see if the bear’s DNA matches any known conflict bears in the area. CDFW staff can also explain the depredation permit process.

CDFW’s recently updated statewide bear policy highlights the importance of taking preventative action by removing attractants in bear habitat and establishes a clear process for addressing each unique situation involving bear/human conflict. Additional information and resources are available on CDFW’s Keep Me Wild: Black Bear web page.