Yes there are bears in Upstate NY and I’ve had at least one encounter with them while hiking through Harriman State Park which is only about 1 hour north of NYC. At the same time you can also find them in other places like the Catskills, Adirondacks and more and in this article I want to show you the most common places they reside in, the best ways to avoid them and most importantly stay safe should you ever run into one.
Things to know about bears in Upstate NY:
Firstly it’s black bears that roam the areas there and they are very different than brown or grizzly bears. For the most part they avoid humans but at the same time they are known to cross hikers and enter campgrounds or properties that leave their trash out in the open. While it’s highly uncommon for them to attack people, they are still one of the most dangerous animals in Upstate NY.
According to the DEC website, there’s approximately 6,000 to 8,000 black bears in New York’s wilderness, with the larger share dwelling in the mixed hardwood forests of the Adirondacks. However, their numbers are also significant in the Catskill, Finger Lakes and Allegheny regions (western NY),
Areas in Upstate NY with bears (map):
Typically the further outside the major cities you go (NYC, Albany), the more common it is to find black bears but they are also pretty prevelant in major upstate parks like this:
- Harriman State Park
- Bear Mountain State Park
- Hudson River Valley area
- Catskill Mountains
- Adirondack Mountains and Adirondack Park
Out of that list, you’ll find the most black bears in the Adirondack Mountains, with an estimated 50-60% of New York’s bear population calling it home. These rolling hills and lush forests are like a giant playground for bears.
Now if you head over to the Catskills, you’ll find a similar scene but it’s about 30% of the total bear population. It’s not just about the scenic beauty here; the region’s mixed hardwood forests serve up a buffet of acorns, berries, and insects that bears simply can’t resist.
Stepping away from these natural bear retreats, you can also find them around human habitats which surround the above areas. They’re turning into regular visitors in suburban backyards, pulled in by the irresistible smell of garbage or pet food left outside. It’s a testament to the bears adaptability, but also a potential source of human-bear conflicts.
Is it easy to run into bears in Upstate NY?
That really depends on several factors:
- Which area you are hiking/exploring (Catskills, Adirondacks are most common places to encounter bears).
- Where you live (is it close to the above spots I listed? If so, then there’s a chance).
- Which season you are exploring the above areas. Late fall through all of winter is generally the safest time to explore places mentioned above as most bears are hibernating during that time so your odds of encounters, even in the most popular spots they reside in are small.
- If you’re carrying food that smells when you’re hiking (or leaving it out in the trash), you are more likely to get a bear’s attention.
Are bear attacks common in NY? Safety tips:
Don’t worry too much about bear attacks as they’re incredibly rare. But here are some safety tips to help you regardless:
- If you’re hiking, travel with groups of people and make noise when you do. Black bears generally stay away from people.
- Avoid bringing foods that smell, stick to bars and energy meals/drinks that don’t have a scent.
- I always recommend carrying bear spray too as that can help should a situation arise/escalate (though this is super rare). This is the one I use.
- If you live in an Upstate NY area where bears commonly visit backyards, just make sure you don’t leave any smelly trash out in the open. Put it inside a bin or something that is hard to open up for bears.
A quick story about my bear encounter: As I mentioned before I encountered it while hiking in Harriman State Park. I was fortunate however because while the bear was only about 10 feet away from me, he seemed to be looking for food/berries and he was also located behind some bushes and it didn’t even seem like he noticed me or cared that I was close by.
While I was very startled and had my hand on the bear mace I brought, I didn’t have any reason to use it and slowly went my way while the bear went his. So even though what I experienced was rare, it was still a safe experience even though it was scary.
Overall just remember the safety tips mentioned above and know that bear encounters in Upstate NY are rare and in most cases safe. If you’re into hiking and plan on exploring the most common places where they reside, try to bring other people with you because they just makes it less likely the bears will ever want to come close to you (even if you’re alone it’s still rare).
If you have any questions about bears or places in Upstate NY where they live, let me know below!