After a long winter, respite is on the way with warming days and buds breaking on branches across the Hudson Valley. As the local flora and fauna begin its seasonal return, Black bears (Ursus americanus) are also emerging from their 5-month-long hibernation, and they are hungry and smart – bears will remember where they have found food, and keep coming back.

“If an activity results in food, they will repeat that activity,” officials with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation say.

Black bears are omnivorous, eating grasses, berries, fruit, nuts, seeds, insects, grubs, and carrion, as well as human sources of food like corn, honey, bird seed, trash, and pet food, when available.

But bird feeders are the cause of over 80-percent of bear problems around homes, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. That’s why the NYS DEC highly recommends that bird feeding activities cease by April 1, as bear activity increases. Bird feeding can resume at the end of November when bears are expected to head back into hibernation.

Birds do not require supplemental feeding, especially during the warmer months of the year, but bears are intelligent and will remember where they have found food, especially after a long winter. Officials say if bears successfully find bird seed at one home, they will inevitably approach other nearby homes. If bears become accustomed to feeding in yards and around homes and people, they may cause property damage and will likely become chronic nuisances.

Bear facts:

• An average adult male weighs about 300 pounds while females average about 170 pounds. The dressed weight of the heaviest 2025 reported bear, harvested in the town of Olive, Ulster County, was 562 pounds!

• There is an estimated, at a minimum, 6,000-8,000 bears in areas open to hunting in New York State.

• Bears now occupy most areas of the state except Long Island and New York City, with 30- to 35-percent of the population inhabiting the Catskill region.

• The age of the oldest bear harvested in 2024 (the most recent year for which age data are available) was 26-years-old. The bear was harvested in the town Mooers, Clinton County.

• Hunters harvested an estimated 1,759 black bears during the 2025-26 hunting seasons. According to DEC’s tracking of the annual bear harvest since 1955, the 2025 statewide bear harvest was second only to the 2003 season, and Southern Zone estimates set a new harvest record.

Tips on avoiding conflicts with black bears:

• Make the first move: Remove bird feeders, take in any food left outside for pets, store garbage bins indoors.

• A black bear usually has been nearby if you see clawed trees around 4-7 feet off the ground. Other indicators are black bear scat, black and in a pile, or ground digging spots.

• If you see a black bear or are in an area where black bears may be, make noise. They will go away if they hear you. Avoid areas with berry bushes, or heavy bush areas.

• If you do encounter a bear, NEVER run away; back away slowly. DO NOT stare, photograph them with large lens camera, feed them, climb a tree, or pet their cubs (!).

• If you see a bear, walk away slowly at a 45-degree angle in the direction you came from. Speak to yourself in a calm tone. Keep your eyes on the bear.

• If the bear is grunting and snapping their jaw, this is a sign you’re too close. If they start jumping up and down, that’s the second warning that you’re too close.
  

To reduce the chance of negative black bear encounters around your home, DEC recommends these precautions:

• Never feed bears! It is illegal, dangerous and detrimental to bears. If you believe bears are being fed in your area, or suspect a nuisance bear situation, report it to DEC immediately.

• Take down bird feeders by April 1. Birds do not need supplemental food in the spring and summer, when natural foods are most abundant (even if you believe your bird feeder to be inaccessible to bears, birds will drop seed on the ground, which can attract bears to your yard).

• Clean off barbeque grills before nightfall (don't forget the grease trap), and if possible, store grills inside when not in use.

• Store garbage in a secure building or location, secure can lids with ropes/bungees/chains, never over-fill cans, and dispose of garbage as frequently as possible.

• If you live in an area where bears may visit, put garbage containers out by the curb just before the scheduled pick-up, not the night before.

• If you live in a densely populated bear area, consider using a certified bear-resistant garbage container.

• Clean garbage cans frequently with ammonia products.

• Do not burn garbage, it is illegal and can attract bears.

• Do not add meat scraps, bones or melon rinds to your compost pile.

• Feed pets indoors and store pet food indoors. If pets must be fed outside, immediately remove all uneaten food and dishes.

Get offline (after you’re done reading this newsletter) and head outside for a different kind of streaming experience starting this weekend – spring trout fishing season!

From mid-March through June, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation stocks more than 1.7 million catchable-sized* brook, brown and rainbow trout in waters across the state in preparation for the spring trout fishing season, which begins on April 1, 2026.

*Anglers should note that drought conditions at Catskill Fish Hatchery during the late summer and autumn of 2025 reduced the water supply to a level that inhibited brown trout growth. Therefore, on average, yearling trout from this facility will be shorter than the 9-inch target size at stocking. Growth rates can be expected to recover at Catskill Fish Hatchery with normal rainfall, officials say.

To help make fishing more affordable and accessible, especially for young anglers-in-training, the DEC has recently partnered with 80 libraries across the state to offer a Fishing Rod Lending Program. While borrowing a book, library patrons can sign out a fishing rod to test out on the water this season.

All that snow helped finally fill our reservoirs and streams after a dry fall.

The public drinking water supply for residents of the City of Newburgh is now protected from development and stormwater runoff after a recent conservation easement.

According to DEC officials, the land, part of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Inc.’s 39-acre property in New Windsor, Orange County, is comprised of forested land that will “act as a filter for potential pollutants from stormwater runoff in the watershed.”

The Silver Stream Reservoir serves approximately 29,000 people in the City of Newburgh.

“When we first approached the Sisters of the Presentation about the possibility of protecting their forest for the purpose of protecting drinking water, they were very receptive and enthusiastic, which I think speaks to their dedication to community and serving the greater good,” said Orange County Land Trust Executive Director Jim Delaune.

New York State officials are seeking input from residents to help streamline state regulations, policies and practices that are getting in the way of creating affordable housing and infrastructure, supporting small businesses and accessing statewide support services like healthcare and child care. The deadline for public input is April 3, 2026.

The Nature of Nature: Biodiversity in the Hudson Valley
Monday, March 30, 2026 from 7 to 8:30pm
Virtual and in-person at 1682 Glasco Turnpike, Woodstock
Filled with incredible cinematography, the documentary explores the region’s habitats from tidal marshes to mountain forests, highlighting conservation efforts to protect native species and combat threats like invasive plants and wildlife overabundance. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion exploring the work of multiple organizations to protect these diverse habitats. Featured speakers include Gretchen Stevens, director emerita of Hudsonia; Laura Heady of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; and WLC’s Executive Director Andy Mossey. Website

Tech Support Day for Older Adults
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 from 2:30 to 4:30pm
Cost of admission: Free with registration
Office for the Aging’s Poughkeepsie Friendship Center, 114 Delafield Street, Poughkeepsie
NYS Senator Rob Rolison’s office and the Dutchess County Office for the Aging. Sign-up by calling OFA during business hours: 845-486-2555.

▲ Moonlit Walk
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 6:30pm
Cost of admission: $25, $10 members
Storm King Art Center
Enjoy sunset to moonrise during this guided, after-hours event. Website

Orange County Job Fair
Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 10am to 1pm
Cost of admission: Free
SUNY Orange, Kaplan Hall, 73 First Street, Newburgh
Meet directly with employers who are actively hiring, explore career paths and learn more about positions available throughout the region. Bring a resume, if applicable. Website

Spring Migration Preview
Thursday, April 2, 2026 from 1 to 2:30pm
Virtual
Every spring, birds return to the Hudson Valley after traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles. Guided by instinct, stars, magnetic fields, and landscape cues, they navigate vast distances with remarkable precision. Join avian ecologist Dr. Loren Merrill for an engaging talk about the science behind these extraordinary journeys. Loren will explore how birds prepare physically for migration, how researchers are tracking their routes with new technology, and which species will soon be returning to our region. Register

Thievery Corporation
Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 7pm
Cost of admission: $45
Basilica Hudson
Website

Sensory Sensitive Screening of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie”
Saturday, April 4, 2026 with doors at 9am, movie at 10am
Cost of admission: Free with advance registration required
Roosevelt Cinemas, 4060 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park
Residents of all ages and abilities are invited to a free movie – with lights up and volume down. Registration is required: Website

Sugaring Off: 18th Century Style
Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 11am to 4pm
Cost of admission: Free
296 Fair Street, Kingston
Join the Senate House State Historic Site for a showcase on maple sugaring, 18th century style! Come and enjoy the music of Mark Rust, learn more about 18th century encampments with the 1st and 3rd Ulster County Militias, savor some jack-wax candy, see demonstrations of boiling maple sap and enjoy crafts for all ages. This family friendly event is free and open to the public. Website

Hudson Valley Craft Beverage Festival
Saturday, April 4, 2026 from noon to 5:30pm
Cost of admission: $25
Twin Star Orchards 155 N Ohioville Road, New Paltz
Come celebrate spring with us and 24 of the best local drink makers at the Hudson Valley Craft Beverage Festival! Taste your way through a vibrant market where you can meet the makers, try unique products and learn more about how they're made. We’ve also planned our Season Opening Pig Roast the same day, so you can grab a plate of tasty pulled pork before or after exploring the market. Website

Opiod Overdose Response Training
April 4, May 2, June 6, August 1, October 3, November 7 and December 5, 2026 from 1-2pm
30 Harriman Drive, Goshen
Learn basic information about opioids and how they work, overdose trends in Orange County, signs of a potential overdose, how to use Narcan spray. Every participant will receive a free Narcan kit. Register

Egg Hunt at Greig Farm
Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 1 to 3pm
Greig Farm, 227 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook
Story time with the Easter bunny in the taproom, goats, fun, food and more. Website

Church 200 Spring Trivia Night
Saturday, April 4, 2026 from 4-5pm
Cost of admission: $10, free for members
Frederic Church Center, 5720 Route 9G, Hudson
Test your knowledge of all things Olana during this special spring trivia night celebrating Frederic Church’s 200th birthday year! Join The Olana Partnership staff for a rousing game of trivia. Work in teams or test your luck solo. Winners and runners up will receive a special Olana prize pack. For ages 18 and up; refreshments available for purchase. Register

Disco Dance Party with Gentleman Brawlers
Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 8pm
Cost of admission: 2 free tickets available per order
The Local, Saugerties
Join a live disco dance party with the Gentleman Brawlers who create a sonic blend of disco-based horn lines, sticky highlife guitar and polyrhythms from West Africa, Trinidad and Brazil. Visuals by B.A. Miale. Tickets

The Kurtág Festival, Signs, Games & Messages
Continues through April 4, 2026
Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson
The Bard Conservatory of Music presents the seventh season of the Kurtág Festival, Signs, Games & Messages, honoring Hungarian composer György Kurtág’s 100th birthday. The 2026 edition highlights the clarity, precision, and expressive depth of Kurtág’s music, and places his work in dialogue with composers and traditions important to him, including both predecessors and contemporaries. Website

• Magnolias, cherry blossoms, and tulips are budding at Untermyer Gardens Conservancy in Yonkers. Additionally, witch hazels, snowdrops, and crocuses are blooming.

• In Hudson, magnolias, cherry blossoms, lilacs, and tulips have not begun budding at Olana State Historic Site.

• Magnolias, cherry blossoms, and lilacs are budding at Lasdon Public Gardens & Veterans Memorial in Katonah. Additionally, early spring bulbs are flowering and early spring shrubs are budding with blooms anticipated later this week.

• Observers at Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison report that magnolias, cherry blossoms, lilacs, and tulips have not begun to bud.

• No activity has been reported at Orange County Arboretum in Montogomery.

• Magnolias and lilacs are budding at Clermont State Historic Site in Germantown. Hellebore, winter aconite, Spring snowflakes, and crocus sp. are in full bloom 

• At Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson, tulips have yet to begin budding.

Finally, SPRING! Capture it + submit your (1) best photo of spring in the Hudson Valley from this year to photos@hvny.info. Original photographs only. Please limit filters/retouching, and include your full name + location, if it’s a public place.