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Iron Mountain Market, Mena, AR (2026)

08/28/2026

Headed to the booth at Patriots and Paws Marketplace.

08/24/2026

Seeing More Bears Around Town Lately? Here’s What’s Really Going On 🐻🌲
If you’ve lived in these mountains long enough, you know this isn’t the first time our furry neighbors have made their way down into town. Every time we hit a brutal summer with scorching heat and no rain, the bear sightings spike.
A lot of folks have been debating why it’s happening, with some pointing fingers at bike trails and outdoor recreation. But look at the sheer scale of the wilderness around us—we have hundreds of thousands of acres of deep forest. Bears have plenty of room to roam and naturally avoid people when their habitat is healthy.
The real culprit is simple: the drought.
Here is why our dry, hot spell is pushing bears down the mountain:
The Mountain Buffet Has Dried Up: Extended dry heat scorches wild berry crops, dries out vegetation, and limits the natural food bears depend on in the high country.
Creeks & Springs Are Low: High-elevation water sources dry up quickly, forcing wildlife to follow drainages down into the valleys and town edges just to get a drink.
Pre-Winter Hunger (Hyperphagia): In late summer, bears' biological clocks tell them to start packing on massive calorie counts for winter. When the woods don't provide, an empty stomach overrides their natural shyness.
Town Smells Like an Easy Meal: A hungry bear can smell an unsecured garbage can, pet food bowl, bird feeder, or greasy grill from miles away.
It’s nature doing what nature does during hard weather cycles. Old-timers will tell you the same thing: when the mountains run dry, the bears come down looking for dinner.
Quick friendly reminder to keep our neighborhood bears safe and wild:
Keep trash bins inside a garage or shed until trash morning.
Bring pet food bowls inside.
Temporarily take down bird feeders.
Clean outdoor grills after using them.
Stay cool out there, watch the roads, and give the wildlife their space!