A recent spate of black bear sightings in suburban Montgomery County is likely related to the growing bear population in rural western Maryland, according to state wildlife officials, who added that residents of Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington and Rockville may be seeing the same young animal roaming the region.
The first sighting took place in Kensington, where a black bear was spotted April 24 pawing through garbage cans on Dewmar Lane and on nearby Culver Street on the night of April 25.
Two days later, a Chevy Chase resident got up close and personal with a black bear by accident. After hearing a noise, the man went outside to investigate, thinking it was his neighbor’s dog on the other side of the fence.
The man went in to pet the animal, only to belatedly realize it was a bear.
He managed to jerk his hand back in time before rushing back inside to call the cops and warn his neighbor.
On Sunday night, a bear was spotted on U.S. military property, specifically the Naval Support Activity base in Bethesda, which provides operational support for the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Cameras caught the bear near a dumpster at around 10 p.m.
On Wednesday, there was another black bear sighting, this time in Rockville. The Rockville City Police Department said a bear had been seen in the Woodley Gardens and Great Falls areas.
The police contacted the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and asked residents to call the non-emergency number, 240-314-8900, if they see a bear.
Maryland wildlife officials believe the same bear has been spotted in all four instances. Bears can travel up to 10 miles a day in order to feed, and the naval installation in Bethesda is only eight miles from where it was spotted in Rockville.
“It is most likely that this is one bear. The individual sightings are at distances that could easily be traveled by a bear in the time between the sightings,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Central Region Manager Jim Bennett told the Washington Times.
Within Maryland, the black bears ultimately originate from the counties of Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick, which host a breeding population of over 2,000 bears.
The bear is most likely a juvenile, specifically a yearling. Bears give birth every two years, and after being raised by the mother for a spring and summer and one winter of hibernation, young bears are pushed away by their mother so she can start the cycle anew, Mr. Bennett explained.
Although the sex of the bear could not be determined from existing footage, it is more likely that it is male than female. Adult male bears are more tolerant of the presence of females in their territory than they are of fellow males.
As such, young male bears wander in search of their own territory, and sometimes get lost, ending up in developed areas such as the D.C. suburbs before finding their way to a more suitable habitat.
The number of bear sightings outside the four aforementioned counties has increased, as the bear population grows and as territory-seeking bears become closer to those counties that do not already have a dedicated native population of bears.
These treks do cause contact, and sometimes conflict, between bears, people, and pets.
Between 2011 and 2021, black bears caused, on average, 480 nuisance calls per year, over $18,000 in farm damages, and around 60 fatal vehicle strikes. Agricultural losses are reimbursed by the state’s Black Bear Damage Reimbursement Fund.
In the event someone encounters a bear, the National Park Service has some tips:
— Identify yourself as human to the bear by talking in a low tone, standing still, and waving your arms.
— Stay calm: Screams, squeals, imitation bear sounds and sudden movements can trigger bear attacks. Loud noises can indicate to a bear that they are dealing with a prey animal.
— Make yourself appear as large as possible. Take higher ground and wave your arms.
— Don’t run. Bears are as fast as a racehorse, both uphill and downhill, and will chase animals (and people) that flee.
— Do not climb a tree. Bears can climb trees.
— Leave the area if possible, but first ensure that the bear always has a way to escape.
— Practice extra caution if the bear is a mother with cubs.
In the event the bear is stationary, the NPS recommends moving sideways at a slow speed. This allows a human to maintain visuals on the bear, and sideways movement is not considered threatening by bears.
People with pets are urged to exercise extra caution, particularly dog owners. The barking, cornering and chasing behaviors exhibited by dogs can make bears become defensive, leading them to attack.
In the event of an attack by a bear, playing dead is a bad idea. Either try to escape or focus attacks on its face and muzzle until it relents. Bear spray can also help deter the creatures.
If a dog and a bear are fighting, people should not try to save their dog directly. Instead, throw objects, use a hose or make loud noise in order to drive the bear away.
Don’t feed bears. Pet food kept outside should be relocated out of the bear’s reach, and trash should be properly secured. Intentionally feeding a bear is illegal in the state of Maryland, as it incentivizes the bear to return for more.
Officials also recommended taking down bird feeders until the bear is out of the area; bears know to look for bird feeders, since they contain seeds that are high in protein and fats.
Human detritus and activity also act as a lure for other predatory animals, such as coyotes and foxes.
While wolves and mountain lions have been absent from Maryland for centuries and have no breeding populations nearby capable of moving in, coyotes have increased their numbers in the state for decades.
“Coyote populations have increased since they were first confirmed in Maryland in 1972. There has been no recent increase in sightings although they are found in every county,” Mr. Bennett said.
Foxes, on the other hand, have gotten used to the plentiful food on offer in the suburbs, including small mammals, birds, and the garbage and pet food left out by human beings.
The yipping canines, however, are still avoidant of people. Animals generally lose their fear of humans only as a result of intentional human actions, mainly feeding, that gets the animal used to human contact.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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