On The Ridge: Summer tidbits Published: 7/7/2021 7:44:21 PM Modified: 7/7/2021 7:44:28 PM We talk about it every year, but summertime in Massachusetts means being outdoors. If you’re going to be spending time outside, you should revisit a few basics to make sure you’re prepared to prevent problems with wildlife, especially black bears. With the numbers of bears increasing throughout Massachusetts, it’s important for “outdoor lovers” to know how to prevent problems. While people living in Western Massachusetts have coexisted with black bears for years, folks in the eastern part of the state may be surprised to learn how fast the population has increased east of Interstate 495. This summer, a young black bear made news as it traveled all over southeastern Massachusetts, and recently, wildlife officials confirmed reports of bears in Newton, Chelmsford, North Andover, Amesbury and even Provincetown back in 2012.