WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — MassWildlife is reminding homeowners that it’s time to take in the bird feeders and secure garbage bins. Bears in Massachusetts are coming out of hibernation and they're hungry.

MassWildife said bears will go for the easiest meal possible, so keep your trash in the garage or an outbuilding and make sure bee hives, chicken and livestock are properly protected. There's anywhere from 4,000-5,000 black bears across the state, most commonly found in Central and Western Mass.

"Our black bear population is increasing in size and moving eastward. They did originally live across the entire state and just through time, they have become a smaller population in the west. So they are sort of turning back to their original range,” said community engagement biologist Meghan Crawford. “Some of that has to do with the reconversion of farm land into forested land and those bears are ready to move into that habitat that they do really well in, and some of it is that we provide such easy meals in our backyards that makes them quite able to establish themselves in those places." 

Make sure to protect your pets as well. The sight of a dog could trigger a bear to become aggressive, so Crawford said to keep pets on a leash and never let them chase or interact with bears.