Woodstock redesignated its Bear Task Force as a five-member BearWise Committee that will advise the town on bear awareness, public education, and conflict prevention.
The town board named the committee’s members at a business meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18. They are Woodstock Supervisor Anula Courtis, Rachel Jackson, John Milo, Hannah Birenz, and Iris Permenter.
The committee aims to include at least one representative from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Milo, a department wildlife biologist, currently fills that role.
Woodstock formed its Bear Task Force amid an increase in human-bear conflicts after department bear biologist Jonathan Russell contacted the town about its high number of incidents. The task force set out to determine whether educating residents about the dangers of feeding bears could reduce those conflicts.
The number of bears euthanized in Woodstock fell to two in 2025 from 12 in 2022. Since the beginning of 2025, state officials have issued nine tickets and 27 warnings for unlawfully feeding bears, according to the department. State officials and committee members said feeding bears is the leading cause of conflicts between people and bears.
Those conflicts can range from a mother bear entering Susan Brown’s Woodstock home to repeated complaints about bears dragging trash through the streets of Hunter. The phrase “human-bear conflicts,” used by BearWise and the department, reflects an effort to recognize the role human behavior plays in such encounters rather than automatically blaming bears.
Milo plans to give the committee annual updates on conflict-related calls, statistics, and factors affecting bear behavior.
Woodstock is also seeking recognition as a BearWise community. The national program promotes measures intended to prevent conflicts and encourage coexistence with bears. Woodstock hopes to become the first community in New York to receive the designation.
Courtis said the designation would give town officials direct access to wildlife experts.
“To have access to people like that is a huge benefit,” she said.
The Shandaken Conservation Advisory Council also uses BearWise programming to reduce complaints involving bears.
Courtis said she expects the Woodstock committee to add two members, helping it maintain a consistent presence at the Woodstock Farm Festival and hold more educational events.
Mia Quick is an editorial assistant at The Overlook. Send correspondence to mia@theoverlooknews.com.
