{"id":11028,"date":"2022-05-10T20:19:43","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T20:19:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/?page_id=11028"},"modified":"2023-02-07T10:15:13","modified_gmt":"2023-02-07T15:15:13","slug":"compost-piles-gardens-fruit-trees","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/compost-piles-gardens-fruit-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"Compost Piles \/ Gardens \/ Fruit Trees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><br>Compost piles, vegetable gardens and fruit or nut trees can attract black bears. This is especially true when wild food sources are scarce. The odor and food rewards from compost piles, gardens and fruit trees can encourage bears to return to the area.<br>Follow these tips to avoid attracting bears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Do not place meat, dairy or any sweet foods in compost or mulch piles. Adding lime can reduce odors while helping decomposition.<\/li><li>To minimize odors, compost in a 3-to-1 ratio of \u201cbrown\u201d to \u201cgreen\u201d ingredients. Brown ingredients include dried plant materials, fallen leaves, small sticks, wood shavings, sawdust, and shredded paper products. Green ingredients include vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and fresh plant materials.<\/li><li>Consider indoor composting for kitchen scraps. When adding these to a compost pile, cover with brown ingredients (listed above) to ensure that none are exposed.<\/li><li>Harvest gardens immediately as vegetables mature. Keep vegetable gardens free of vegetable wastes.<\/li><li>Residents that have fruit or nut trees on their property should recognize that bears will be attracted to any residual fruit or nuts left on the ground. To minimize bear activity in your yard, pick up any fruit or nuts that fall from trees daily. Discard them in bear-resistant garbage containers and do not let fruit rot on the ground.<\/li><li>Locate compost piles, gardens and fruit orchards at least 50 yards from forest tree lines or other sources of cover for bears.<\/li><li>Consider installing electric fencing around compost piles, vegetable gardens and fruit trees and orchards. It is the most effective way to deter bears.<\/li><li>Electric fencing should be simple and as strong as possible. Use an energizer with a minimum joule rating of 0.7 and a voltage output of at least 6,000 volts. Use bait on the fence. Fencing is only effective if it is maintained.<\/li><li>Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-facts-for-agriculturists\/\">Bear Facts for Agriculturists page<\/a> for detailed fencing and maintenance instructions.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1033850528-170667a-21@1x-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1033850528-170667a-21@1x-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1033850528-170667a-21@1x-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1033850528-170667a-21@1x-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1033850528-170667a-21@1x.png 1104w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">Bear Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column bear-resources is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bear Safety Tips<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"796\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/bear-ear-tag-research-jc0-7321-10@1x.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/bear-ear-tag-research-jc0-7321-10@1x.png 796w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/bear-ear-tag-research-jc0-7321-10@1x-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/bear-ear-tag-research-jc0-7321-10@1x-768x386.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 25px;line-height: 26px\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-encounters\/\">Bear Encounters<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-facts-for-homeowners\/\">Homeowners<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-facts-for-outdoor-enthusiasts\/\">Hikers and Campers<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-facts-for-municipalities\/\">Townships \/ Law Enforcement<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-facts-for-businesses\/\">Businesses<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-facts-for-agriculturists\/\">Farmers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prevent Bear Damage<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"796\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/tegan-mierle-fdostelvhn8-unsplash-11@1x.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/tegan-mierle-fdostelvhn8-unsplash-11@1x.png 796w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/tegan-mierle-fdostelvhn8-unsplash-11@1x-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/tegan-mierle-fdostelvhn8-unsplash-11@1x-768x386.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 25px;line-height: 26px\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/prevent-bear-damage\/\">Avoid Attracting Bears<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/garbage-management\/\">Garbage Management<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/pet-owners\/\">Pet Owners<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/feeding-birds\/\">Feeding Birds<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/beehives-crops-livestock\/\">Beehives \/ Crops \/ Livestock<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/compost-piles-gardens-fruit-trees\/\">Compost \/ Gardens \/ Fruit Trees<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column bear-resources is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bear Basics<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"796\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1051015418-10@1x.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1051015418-10@1x.png 796w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1051015418-10@1x-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/gettyimages-1051015418-10@1x-768x386.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 25px;line-height: 26px\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/history-of-black-bears-in-new-jersey\/\">Natural History<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/black-bear-biology-and-behavior\/\">Biology<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/black-bear-biology-and-behavior\/#behavior\">Behavior<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/black-bear-research-and-management\/\">Bear Research<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/black-bear-management\/\">Bear Management<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Resources<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"796\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/dsc-3194-10@1x.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/dsc-3194-10@1x.png 796w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/dsc-3194-10@1x-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/njfw\/dsc-3194-10@1x-768x386.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 796px) 100vw, 796px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-top: 15px;padding-right: 25px;line-height: 26px\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/publications-and-materials\/\">Publications &amp; Materials<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/black-bear-education-in-new-jersey\/\">Black Bear Education<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-safety-video\/\">YouTube Bear Safety Video<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/bear-facts-for-kids\/\">Bear Facts for Kids<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/njfw\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/black_rightarow.png\" alt=\"black_rightarow\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/bears\/activity-reports\/\">Activity Reports<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Compost piles, vegetable gardens and fruit or nut trees can attract black bears. This is especially true when wild food sources are scarce. The odor and food rewards from compost piles, gardens and fruit trees can encourage bears to return to the area.Follow these tips to avoid attracting bears. Do not place meat, dairy or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":6544,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11028","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11028"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11028\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/njfw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}