Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Hillsdale animal control officer Wes Powell warned residents March 29, to stop using bird feeders after black bears were recently spotted in the area. Powell said there have been at least two sightings of black bears reported during the past two weeks. “A young black bear has been hanging around Route 23 near Herrington’s and the town hall,” Powell said. “There was one in lower Ancram on Route 3 a couple of times. With the warm weather they are all coming out early. The problem right now is many bird feeders are out...and that is what is drawing them.” Early spring means bears are very hungry. “They are coming out of hibernation and they burned up all their fat,” Powell said. But there is no reason for residents to be alarmed, he said. In Columbia County, the public can get advice on dealing with bears by contacting the DEC’s regional wildlife office at (518) 357-2158. Information on how the public can avoid confrontations with bears can be found on the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s website at www [dot] dec [dot] ny [dot] gov [slash] press. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.