Black bear spotted inside the Beltway – WTOP News

No less than two sightings of a black bear in Montgomery County, Maryland, have neighbors on alert.

The 2 sightings in Kensington and Chevy Chase are probably the identical black bear in line with Jim Bennett, with the Wildlife & Heritage Service of Maryland’s Division of Pure Sources.

In an interview with WTOP, Bennett defined that at the moment of yr, younger male black bears are on the transfer for a brand new residence vary. “Twenty years in the past, bears have been very unusual on this space,” however he stated sightings in even closely developed Montgomery County are now not uncommon, “that is occurring yearly now.”

Over the previous decade, black bears have been noticed in Gaithersburg.

Bears can cowl a substantial amount of territory, and Bennett stated it’s not unusual for them to journey as much as 10 miles a day. That may lead a hungry bear to research suburban properties the place trash cans and birdfeeders can present simple and filling meals.

Bennett stated the very first thing householders ought to do is take down their birdfeeders for a minimum of just a few weeks till the bear is out of the realm. “Birdseed, particularly the black-oil sunflower seed is extraordinarily excessive in protein and fat, and it’s very engaging to bears,” Bennett stated.

Make sure you keep away from leaving meals scraps in your trash, and periodically clear out the trash cans, Bennett stated. Bennett suggests an ammonia-based resolution; bears have delicate noses that draw them to your trash cans, and that very same sensitivity can repel them when the trash containers are cleaned.

Pets ought to be stored indoors, and if you happen to’re within the behavior of feeding yours exterior — on a again deck, for instance — Bennett stated to you should definitely convey bowls inside. And he additionally really useful locking the doorways to your private home and your automobile.

“Bears have been recognized to get into unlocked automobiles, particularly with most new autos the place all you must do is pull on the door deal with,” Bennett stated. And exterior doorways with levers — like these on some sliding glass doorways — may also be manipulated by bears.

A corporation based by state company biologists known as BearWise.org notes that over half of incidents between black bears and people concerned canine, whose barking and chasing can set off defensive behaviors in bears. Bennett stated assaults by black bears are extraordinarily uncommon however that two incidents in Frederick County, one in 2016 and one in 2020, concerned canine. The folks attacked survived in each these circumstances.

Bennett stated Maryland’s Allegany and Garrett counties have the very best variety of black bears, however they’re additionally frequent in Washington and Frederick counties, with periodic sightings in Montgomery County.  Even with the elevated sightings in developed areas, assaults stay uncommon.

“You may spend a whole lot of day trip in Garrett County and Allegany County the place our bear inhabitants is highest and by no means see a bear,” Bennett stated.

For those who do encounter a bear, it’s really useful that if you happen to see it earlier than it sees you, slowly transfer out of the realm. Working can immediate a bear to chase. When a bear first notices people, it’s not unusual for it to face on its hind legs. Bennett stated that’s not an indication that the bear will assault.

“Standing up is a form of inquisitive factor, it’s not an aggressive or defensive conduct in any respect,” he stated. It’s the bear’s means of getting a greater look and sometimes catching a whiff of the people it’s encountered.

If a black bear continues to method you on a path or in your yard, make noise, that tends to encourage bears to go away.

Bennett stated if you’re generally climbing in areas the place there are bears otherwise you stay in a county the place bears are extra frequent, having bear spray with you is advisable.

However he stated it’s not a repellent. It ought to be used when the bear comes shut and isn’t backing off.

“This can be very efficient, and bears don’t prefer it. They’ll run away as soon as they get sprayed with it” he stated.