I did a bit more research. There is a no feeding bear law in VT. But the rules under the law seem to be rather vague still, other than, no feeding bears, period. Under the FAQs about bear on VTFWD page, see http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/learn_more/living_with_wildlife/bear_aware/living_with_black_bears_faqs/, it says: What time of year can I feed birds in my yard without attracting black bears? You can put a bird feeder out on December 1, or after the onset of prolonged snowy winter weather. You should take a birdfeeder down by April 1 at the latest. If there is an early spring with melted snow and warm weather, it is a good idea to take your bird feeder down early. Bird seed is extremely high in fat and is very difficult for hungry bears to resist. This contradicts their press release in 2015 which "suggests" april 1 - Nov 1. Then another FAQ says this: Is it legal to feed black bears in Vermont? It is against the law to intentionally feed black bears in Vermont, regardless of whether or not that person is hunting black bears. This includes knowingly leaving out food that is not intended for black bears but is attracting bears anyway, including bird-feeders, dog food left outside, or unattended garbage. It may also in some cases include unprotected bee hives and chicken coops. So, my take is that they don't have a specific date for bird feeders per se under the law , but that you should not allow them to feed on them. Maybe someone will find out more from them if they call them. Bottom line, don't let bears become problem. Be responsible with your bird feeders. Kent ____________________________ Kent McFarland Vermont Center for Ecostudies PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055 802.649.1431 x2 <http://vtecostudies.org/> On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 9:50 AM, Kent McFarland <[log in to unmask] > wrote: > I doubt this is correct. HB would stand for House Bill, not law. And since > you said it was passed, I can find no such law on the books. Also, there is > a press release from VT Fish and Wildlife from March 2015 that says > nothing of the sort. It "suggests" you remove them during certain dates. > You can read it at > http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/cms/One.aspx?portalId=73163&pageId=491655 > . > > Here is the text: > MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department recommends taking > down bird feeders from April 1 through November 30 to avoid attracting > black bears that will be coming out of their winter dens to seek an early > spring meal. > > Bears are attracted to suet and bird seed, especially black oil sunflower > seed. Bringing feeders in at night doesn’t work, because bears will still > feed on seed that is spilled on the ground. > > Bird feeders are just one of the things that can attract hungry bears. > Other sources of food that bears find appealing are: pet food, barbecue > grills, garbage, household trash containers, open dumpsters, and campsites > with accessible food and food wastes. > > Purposely feeding a bear is not just bad for the bear, it’s also illegal. > > Vermont law also states that residents must take reasonable measures to > protect their property from bears before lethal force can be taken. Some of > these measures include: > • Keep chickens and honeybees secure within an electric fence or other > bear-proof enclosure. > • Never feed bears, deliberately or accidentally. > • Feed your pets indoors. > • Store trash in a secure place. Trash cans alone are not enough! > > Kent > > > ____________________________ > > Kent McFarland > Vermont Center for Ecostudies > PO Box 420 | Norwich, Vermont 05055 > 802.649.1431 x2 > > <http://vtecostudies.org/> > > On Tue, May 17, 2016 at 9:40 AM, Connie Snyder <[log in to unmask]> > wrote: > >> Addendum: I tried looking up the "law" without success and have just sent >> a query to our representatives Tim Briglin and Jim Masland. The >> goldfinches, pine siskins, purple and house finches, nuthatches and now the >> rose-breasted grosbeaks, not to mention mourning dove who manage to balance >> on the little platform, chickadees, blue jay, pair of beautiful little >> chipping sparrows that have been coming to our cylinder feeder hoisted up >> under the second-floor eaves have been a source of great pleasure this >> spring. Not something I would give up willingly... >> >> Connie Snyder >> >> On 17 May 2016 at 09:29, Michael Choukas Jr. < >> [log in to unmask]> wrote: >> >>> I did not know it was a law. I took down my sunflower seed feeder >>> (which was hit by bear as we watched 15 years ago) but still have my >>> tubular feeder with niger seed active as well as some bedraggled suet. >>> >>> The tubular feeder had up to thirty goldfinches feeding daily all >>> through April and now has ten to fifteen pine siskins all the time. >>> >>> Should I take it down? >>> >>> Mike >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From:* Upper Valley Birders <[log in to unmask]> on >>> behalf of Connie Snyder <[log in to unmask]> >>> *Sent:* Tuesday, May 17, 2016 9:21 AM >>> *To:* [log in to unmask] >>> *Subject:* [UVB] Purported Summer Bird Feeder Ban in Vermont & New >>> Hampshire >>> >>> A posting on yesterday's Thetford listserv asserts that on July 1, 2014 >>> a law went into effect in Vermont banning the use of bird feeders beginning >>> early in the spring. HB 101 was designed to reduce the number of nuisance >>> bears in the state that, due to HUMAN behavior, lose their fear of entering >>> people’s yards and are, in fact, rewarded for doing so. Once a bear finds >>> a prime source of bird seed or human food, more bears can be attracted. >>> Not only that but the first bear will visit OTHER HOMES in the >>> area where it finds food, it will not just stay in your yard. This year >>> bird feeders were to be taken down by March 15 in Vermont and March 17 in >>> New >>> Hampshire and certainly no later than April 1. Bird feeders are NOT to >>> be put out again until DECEMBER 1 or UNTIL there is a prolonged period of >>> snow..." >>> >>> Yikes! I have been oblivious of this development. >>> I'm wondering: how are other Upper Valley birders dealing with this? >>> >>> Connie Snyder >>> >>> >>> To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set >>> your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the >>> list owner: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe: >>> E-mail this command to [log in to unmask]: UNSUBSCRIBE >>> UV-Birders To change your e-mail address: E-mail this command from your old >>> address to: [log in to unmask]: CHANGE UV-Birders [new >>> e-mail address] >>> >>> Web based archives and subscription management are available at: >>> http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html >>> >> >> To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set >> your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the >> list owner: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe: >> E-mail this command to [log in to unmask]: UNSUBSCRIBE >> UV-Birders To change your e-mail address: E-mail this command from your old >> address to: [log in to unmask]: CHANGE UV-Birders [new >> e-mail address] >> >> Web based archives and subscription management are available at: >> http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html >> > > To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe: E-mail this command to [log in to unmask]: UNSUBSCRIBE UV-Birders To change your e-mail address: E-mail this command from your old address to: [log in to unmask]: CHANGE UV-Birders [new e-mail address] Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html