SILVER SPRING, Md. (WJLA) — There has been an uptick of bear sightings in parts of Maryland, according to wildlife officials.
Last week, Montgomery Parks shared a photo of a recent bear sighting, captured on a Ring doorbell camera walking through a front yard in Germantown. It came with a warning: bear season.
In the past week, at least three bear sightings have been reported in the county -- in the Sligo Creek area of Silver Spring, another near the Northwest Golf course off of Layhill Road, and in Boyds.
The sightings are becoming more frequent. Some Maryland wildlife professionals predict that Montgomery County will be the next county to be home to a permanent, breeding population of black bears. Between May and July, solitary bears, most often young males, are striking out on their own and traveling considerable distances in search of suitable homes. The vast majority of these young bears are transient, and they find their way to more desirable, bear habitats from western Maryland, Pennsylvania, and rural parts of West Virginia and Virginia.
We’ve been seeing more bears coming down from Western Maryland into the county. So, these are 18-month-old bears, they are normally the male teenage bears that are coming down. They got booted out by mom, and they are coming down looking for habitat, looking for a place to set up shop,” said Noelia Schmidt, who is a natural resources specialist with the Montgomery County Parks Department.A bear sighting can be exciting for some, and alarming for others. The reality is the animals are rarely confrontational, but it is suggested that no one should take a chance. As more, young, solitary bears visit Montgomery County in search of suitable habitat, it is likely that some will begin to find select areas favorable, resulting in the animals staying in the county indefinitely.
According to Montgomery Parks, the American Black Bear is the largest land mammal native to Maryland.
"Once nearly extirpated from the state, due to forest habitat degradation and indiscriminate killing, Black bears have made a strong comeback largely due to conservation efforts and forested habitat improvements," the Montgomery Parks website noted.
While the bears tend to be black, they are also seen in a variety of color phases including brown, cinnamon and blonde.
Try to be responsible on our behalf and try to minimize conflict. Try to minimize negative interactions. These bears that are coming down, they are just looking for a place, they are going to move on very quickly,” said Schmidt.Here are some tips to prepare for and/or avoid negative interactions with black bears:
- Never feed bears or other wildlife (intentionally or unintentionally). Feeding black bears can seem fascinating and fun, but it is a recipe for disaster. Feeding bears is illegal in the State of Maryland.
- Don’t leave bowls of pet food or water outside. If possible, keep all pet food indoors at all times.
- Keep garbage in sturdy, clean containers with tight-fitting lids. (Bear-proof cans are recommended in areas where bear interactions become common.) Secure all trash cans and clean them regularly to minimize strong food odors as much as possible. Keep compost that contains food materials in enclosed bins away from your residence.
- Keep bird feeders out of reach. Do not overfill bird feeders, and stop filling them prior to the month of April (It has been said that “In April, a bird feeder becomes a bear feeder”)
- Keep barbeque grills clean and secure.
- Always walk your dogs on a leash. Do not tolerate bears becoming comfortable around your yard – encourage them to leave by making loud noises.
Report Black Bear sightings in Montgomery County to the MD Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife & Heritage Service at 301-258-7308 or Natural Resources Police at 410-260-8888.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uLbAnKuvZpOkunC6xLCqaKaRqbawuoywpquklGS2r6%2FRnpisnZRir6at0Waqop%2BYqbavs9JmoKdlnZa%2FurjAp5tmqJ%2Beu7V506hkqaekmru1tcClZKmdoqKur7HNrWShmZKewaLAjJ%2Bmq52jqXq4u86dnJ1lkaeyor%2BMmqWipZGhwG7DyKWbpaGWmnqxvs6fnKyrmaS7orjSZpmrnZWZtq%2BzjKmmqa2clsGqu81mqaKml2KxsLvRm5ylpF2Yrq6x0ZpkrJ2Tqr%2BqwNhmnainpJa0pg%3D%3D