In the Summer months, you may be taking out your trash when you spot an unusual dumpster diver — a black bear. These bears roam throughout Kentucky, and Summer is the time of year when many young black bears are pushed out of the areas where they were raised by older, dominant bears. This leaves the young male bear no choice but to venture out into the world on their own for the first time. During this time, all bets are off when it comes to where you’ll spot one of these bears as residents of one Madison County apartment complex discovered earlier this week.
“We see the younger males roaming this time of year mainly because… they’ve gotten kicked out of the nest by their mothers”, says Bear Program Coordinator for KY Fish and Wildlife John Hast. “Part of bear evolutionary history is the young males get kicked out of the nest and go wander. They kind of walk through Madison County and then all of a sudden, there’s Richmond.”
Black bears have a natural fear of both people and dogs, making aggressive encounters with one extremely rare. Hast says the best thing to do in the event of a black bear sighting is to make your presence known.
But, why are bear sightings seemingly becoming more common? The answer to that question is that more people are moving out into previously isolated rural areas. Additionally, more and more people have cameras at the ready to record and post videos of young bears trying to adapt to their new surroundings.
If you’re looking to prevent black bear sightings near your home, there are several things you can do. Most importantly, make sure any food waste is stored securely in a garage or shed. If you have a grill, ensure that is thoroughly cleaned and stored securely as well. Additionally, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife advises not to feed birds near bear range or in areas where bears have been known to wander. If you spot a black bear and you believe it presents an immediate danger to those around it, Fish and Wildlife says to contact law enforcement immediately.
