Last month, staff at Eastern Montgomery High School looked to the school’s courtyard to find a different type of visitor.
A 100-200 pound black bear was inspecting the school and wandering around the neighborhood. The bear made the evening news and was photographed several times before he scampered off.
On Thursday Radford City Public Schools announced on Facebook that a bear had been spotted at multiple locations around the high school.
The scene has become more and more a common occurrence in our area.
According to a Virginia Tech wildlife specialist, as the bear population has continued to grow and expand farther east, the number of bear interactions has increased markedly. Jim Parkhurst said people who have never before had to deal with bears are now experiencing situations for which they have little understanding.
“Conflicts arise most often during periodic natural food shortages when bears are forced out of the woods to find sufficient alternative resources. However, in any year, bears, especially young dispersing males, will take advantage of easy pickings made available by people who don’t know that they may be contributing to a problem,” he said.
In Virginia, the black bear is one of the largest mammals with adult females weighing 100-200 pounds and males ranging 150 to 400 pounds.
“Like all wild animals, they can be unpredictable and, given their size and strength, must be treated with respect and caution. Bears are inquisitive, intelligent, and display good memories, especially in relation to where reliable food resources exist, and they can be long-lived,” Parkhurst said.
The Commonwealth currently has a healthy and expanding black bear population with estimates of between 16,000 and 17,000.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says the key is to be “bear aware” especially that a bear’s diet can include almost anything. Typically, it includes available non-meat foods such as berries, fruits, acorns and hickory nuts, but there can also be the venture in and around bird feeders, grills, pet food and garbage. That’s when conflict and interaction with humans result.
“The use of these alternative resources typically occurs when natural foods are scarce (e.g., during periods of drought or years of poor acorn production),” Parkhurst said.
To reduce the potential for a confrontation or damage to personal property, he recommends precautions be taken before a bear develops an interest in or gains access to potential food sources.
“As with most wildlife damage problems, no single technique exists that will provide absolute protection from bear depredations. However, measures taken in a timely fashion, facilities that are maintained properly, and responses that are applied with an understanding of the habits or behaviors of bears can reduce the likelihood of negative outcomes,” he said.
Those tips include: securing your garbage in bear resistant trash cans or store it in a secure building; remove bird feeders if a bear is in the area; and don’t leave pet food outdoors.
The town of Blacksburg has taken a step to relieve some of the problems being seen there after receiving a $7,500 grant from the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries to purchase 48 “bear-resistant” trash cans.
These bear-resistant trash carts will be distributed on a first come first-served basis while supplies last. Additional purchases of the trash cans by the town will be subject to available funding. Questions on the program may be addressed to the Blacksburg Public Works Department Office of Solid Waste Management at 443-1212.
If you encounter a bear, remain clam. Give the bear plenty of space and have a clear escape route.
The VDIF also says: Hike or walk in groups of two or more people, never run from a bear or try to approach one, and carry a bear pepper spray when outdoors. If a bear follows you or becomes aggressive, intimidate the animal by waving your arms. Also, back away when you cross the path of the bear.
Common bear myths:
Myth: A bear standing on its hind legs is about to charge or attack.
Fact: A bear stands on its hind legs to get a better view and smell of the surroundings. This is not an aggressive posture, just a way to determine who or what piqued its interest.
Myth: Bears are dangerous predators.
Fact: Although classified as carnivores, black bears are omnivores, and opportunistic feeders. This means that they eat both plants and animals. Over 80% of their diets consist of vegetation, fruit, and nuts. The remainder includes mostly insects and larva, carrion, fish, and occasionally small mammals.
Myth: One of the most dangerous encounters is getting between a mother black bear and her cubs.
Fact: Because black bears can tree their cubs, it is rare for them to injure a person in that situation. Black bear cubs are great at climbing and will be sent up a tree if the mother bear feels nervous about a situation. The mother bear will either run off to lead the danger away or stay close by until the perceived threat passes. Just like with any young animals you never want to try to get near them. If you see a mother bear and cubs give them some space, be quiet, and retreat slowly.
Myth: Bears are unpredictable.
Fact: Bears use body language and vocalizations to show their intentions. Learning about bear behavior can be beneficial to people who travel in bear country. The website www.bear.org has a terrific video on interpreting behaviors in bears called “Nervous Behavior”.
Myth: Bears have poor eyesight.
Fact: Bears see in color and have good vision similar to humans
Myth: Shooting or relocating a bear that has been attracted to your property because of a food source will solve the problem.
Fact: Removing a bear and not the attractant will only create a newly available habitat niche so another bear can move right back in, creating a vicious cycle of killing.
Those that spot a bear are encouraged to contact the local autorities.
