Resources biologist Tristan Curry checks It's coming directly at you. In addition, black bears have an incredible homing instinct and can travel amazing distances in relatively short periods of time. Bear sightings are on the rise in Kentucky. Rogers said Tasha has adjusted well to her life at theCenter. Dont approach the bear, dont shoot the bear, you know, the bear is just passing through, he said. Females with offspring generally emerge from dens in March or April. Bear activity is on the rise across central Kentucky. Dustin Wilcox is a television production student at Murray State University. Watch a video of Hast discussing a bear sighting in Jessamine County. at Kingdom Come State Park, bear-proof So please, encourage your neighbors to follow these important precautions. Almost all of these types of problems can be eliminated by simply removing the attractant. Litter size is also affected by the saturation of bears within a habitat. Realize that If you feel a bear is posing an immediate danger, they ask you call local law enforcement. NO!!! The heaviest wild black bear ever reliably documented was an 880-pound, 10-year old male that was harvested on the coast of North Carolina in the fall of 1998. Denning serves as a way for bears to not only survive but successfully produce offspring during the cold winter months when natural foods are almost nonexistent. the radio collar on a hibernating bear While the core population is concentrated along the Pine, Cumberland, and Black Mountain areas, bears may now be found throughout the eastern portions of the Commonwealth. That is especially true if there is ready access to garbage or other human-related food sources during the winter months. He says this will tell researchers how the population has changed over time since bears were reintroduced in the Big South Fork in 1996-97. Be certain to face solar chargers so as to receive the most sunlight. Send us your best photos for a chance to be featured. Bears are extremely intelligent and quickly learn to associate people with food. If the number of bears in a habitat is about at the level the habitat cansupport, female bears (sows) start having more male cubs. Immediately call the KDFWR and report the offense. In a recent news release, state biologists confirmed reports of bear tracks in Princeton last Monday, a bear sighting near Dixon on Wednesday and a sighting in If you see those behaviors you are too close! Data collected by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) clearly illustrate that most conflicts result from intentional feeding, or access to other human-related sources such as garbage, pet food, livestock feed, and birdfeeders. This second trait is referred to as habituation to humans, and it is simply a loss of their natural fear of people. Iowa Wild Animals: What are They and Where to See Them? The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. For more information on the North AmericanBearCenter go towww.bear.org. She was hesitant to walk in the snow at first, but we had April weather in March,and the snow melted a lot. They are excellent climbers and are often seen scaling trees or exploring for food along riverbanks. Reports have been made of black bear sighting in Caldwell County. In many areas of Kentucky, it is fairly common for bears to be near human dwellings during the spring and summer months. Bear sightings in Sierra Madre have increased in recent years, and city officials say they want the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to change its approach to dealing with Bears are extremely curious animals as a likely result of their intensive learning process as offspring. Sometimes, the bear pictures and black panther pictures or mountain lion pictures, they get passed around all over the country, Richardson said. We talked to Tom Ward with Caldwell County Animal Control. While variant color phases may exist, bears are typically black with a brown muzzle and may exhibit a white patch on their chest. Sign up for Kentucky Living updates Bears often stand up to see what is happening Problems may be further addressed by purchasing or constructing a bear-resistant garbage container. In Kentucky, the direct or indirect feeding of black bears is a crime that is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to a year in jail and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges for up to 3 years. The first thing to realize is that the bear is simply going after an easy meal. Celebrating the energy of your community. They can also be hard to see in tall grass. Watch a video of Hast discussing a bear sighting in Jessamine County. CALDWELL COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) - Photos show an apparent bear sighting near Princeton, Kentucky. If you do encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and never approach the bear. This is because males leave the territory in which they are born, while females traditionally share space within the mothers territory. The Return of the Grizzly: Could Minnesota See These Creatures Once Again? But, he said, he "wouldn't necessarily call them attacks.". Reach millions of readers across the Commonwealth by sharing your business or product with people who care about the same things you do. However, these feeders supply an easy food source and provide an easy meal for bears. Consequently, bears that filtered into Kentucky from our Southern Appalachian neighbors had access to large, remote tracts of quality forest habitat. If you do encounter a bear, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife urges you to keep a safe distance and never approach the bear. Female black bears typically reach sexual maturity at three years of age, depending upon their physical condition. In the last decade, four "bear-human interactions" in and around the city limits have been reported, according to James Carlson, a city analyst. There was a problem saving your notification. If cornered or threatened, bears may slap the ground, pop their jaws or huff as a warning. CALDWELL COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) - Photos show an apparent bear sighting near Princeton, Kentucky. CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) Charleston Area Medical Center is warning its employees and patients to be cautious after a bear sighting at one of their Kanawha City locations. Have a question? All bear species have an incredible sense of smell. Visitors may spot deer, squirrels, turkeys, raccoons, and black bears. Nuisance reports peak in June and July for two reasons. The older bears want to fight and the female bears arent interested in them, so they go on these walkabouts.. There, they assess the litter and the health aspects of both mom and cubs, Hast says. John Hast, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, checks on cubs in McCreary County. During the spring and summer months, bears in the Southern Appalachians feed primarily on grasses and fruit, suchas blackberries, blueberries, and huckleberries. You have permission to edit this article. Leave it alone. Richardson said mature male bears push smaller ones out of their typical ranges this time of year to encourage them to find their own place to relocate. Biologists believe this is likely the same bear. The black bear is a powerful animal with Doing so will not only help us keep bears wild in Kentucky, but it just may save a bears life. Kentucky, located in the eastern United States, is home to a diverse range of wildlife species that thrive in its forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Chief Communications Officer Kevin Kelly tells the News Edge the bear was sighted near Dixon after biologists confirmed bear tracks in southern Henderson County earlier this week. UTICA, Ind. Locate and remove the lure that caused the bear to come into town. 1 talking about this. In 2016, a Sierra Madre resident was hospitalized after he was attacked by a bear on a hiking trail. Wildlife viewing drives, hiking trails, and camping areas offer excellent opportunities to observe these animals in their natural environments. So, a young male, they typically get kicked out of the breeding range. He says its not unusual in the early summer for young male bears to wander well outside of their established bear range in eastern Kentucky. The copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a venomous snake that is common in Kentuckys woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. Lobby your local municipal government for the use of bear-resistant containers. A black bear was standing right next to him, just feet away. Make sure the bear has a clear escape route. Kentucky Wildlife Diversity: Where to Find Wild Animals? Bears were also spotted last summer in Louisville. Food-conditioned bears live considerably shorter lives than wild bears. While most bears that wander into western Kentucky come from the eastern Kentucky population, this animal may have come just a little bit further. Instead, the proper storage of human-related foods and never feeding bears is the key. Kentucky is home to a growing bear population that offers frequent and widespread viewing opportunities in the wild. As human development continues and bear numbers increase, however, interactions will be unavoidable. Clear growing vegetation away from the lowest as this will ensure a closed circuit and render maximum charge upon contact with the fence. Hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and camping areas provide ample opportunities to spot these animals in their natural habitats. Bears will almost always find an escape route if they are left alone. When bears are intentionally fed, they learn to associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans. The sad truth, however, is that food-conditioned and habituated bears live considerably shorter lives as a result of so much time spent near people. Eastern box turtles are known to have a long lifespan, with some individuals living for over a century. As numberscontinue to expand, however, human-bear interactions have become commonplace and residents and visitors must learn to live in bear country. Bears are incredible diggers- irregularities in terrain should be filled in with heavy debris so as to prevent bears from crawling under low points. Injuries to pets by black bears are not a common occurrence in Kentucky. Consequently, cubs are born in late January while still in the den and weigh only ounces at birth. Once that fear is lost, bears may become day-active in search of food, approach people, and alter their home range to include human population centers. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources officials say they have received several reports of bear sightings in western Kentucky over the past week. However, it also offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. The threat is possible, however, and simple precautions can eliminate this unnecessary problem. around them. After females are bred in June, the fertilized eggs remain in a state of arrested development and are not implanted in the uterus until the fall. David Oppenheimer was relaxing in a chair outside his home when he turned to see something startling. The latest spotting happened on Wednesday in Extensive research has shown electric fencing to be extremely effective at deterring nuisance behavior by bears. If garbage must be left outside, store it in a sturdy building or in a bear-resistant container. John Hast, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, says with a little luck, you can see a bear on the Little Shepherd Trail, a winding mountain roadway that runs from Whitesburg to Kingdom Come State Park. Lynn Reynolds, chief biologistand founder of the North American Bear Center and the Wildlife Research Center in Ely, Minnesotais delving into the issue after Tashabecame an ambassador (captive) bear in Minnesotawhenshe was orphanedafterher mother was killedby a truck. Do not leave garbage on a deck or porch, even if it is screened; doing so will only result in a bear on your deck or a torn screen. For the last few months, several individuals in various areas of Perry County, including within Hazard city limits, have experienced black bear sightings. Situated along the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, this is a vast expanse of forests, wetlands, and grasslands that provides a haven for wildlife. In years of poor acorn production, however, females may not be able to store adequate fat reserves and reproduction can be significantly decreased. According to Hast, an uptick in bear sightings is actually pretty normal this time of year. Birdfeeders are often overlooked when it comes to minimizing human-bear conflicts in residential areas. Keep in mind, however, that aggressive dogs could suffer injury or death if a physical conflict arises. Bears are often up in trees and you may walk right by them without ever noticing. Black bears are solitary animals with the exception of individual family units or breeding pairs during the June-July breeding season. Photo: Debra Gibson Isaacs, Although they are large and most often black, American black bears are easily hidden in tall grass or up in trees. Even worse, their new problem is of absolutely no fault of their own but they are stuck with the consequences. Feeding bears creates behaviors in those animals that are almost impossible to correct. The good news is black bears arent aggressive, in fact, theyre easily spooked. Unfortunately, those sources are almost always a direct byproduct of human-related foods. When they emerge from dens, natural foods are scarce and often bears are lured by the smell of human-related foods. In addition, home range area varies considerably between seasons due to significant shifts in food availability. These attractants typically include garbage, pet food, and birdfeeders. A nearby man took care of her for months but did not have the permits to keep her. Bears keep to themselves for the most part, except for male bears during mating season. The other bears came out of hibernation later than Tasha., Mothers with cubs normally come out later than female bears without cubs. Rather, bears enter a sleep-like state referred to as winter torpor in which they are fully capable of moving and even exiting the den. They are specifically designated for wildlife conservation and offer excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. White-tailed deer are the most popular game animal in Kentucky, and hunting them is a cherished tradition for many residents. During that time, their metabolism slows so that all reserve energy is used for basic life functions and milk production for cubs. To report a bear sighting in your area call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife or 1-800-25-ALERT. Fed bears lose their natural fear of people and become habituated to humans. Male black bears are known to wander great distances, Morgan said. Kelly says residents of an area where a bear has been spotted should secure their garbage in a garage or other building, not leave pet food or bird feed outside and clean and store barbecue grills. Black bears are known for their stocky Female home range area is further limited as they often have cubs or yearling bears in tow. But these wild animals might be more hungry than the average houseguest. Photos of the bear in Caldwell County, Kentucky were taken over the weekend. It is suspected that growing bear numbers in McCreary County are the likely result of population expansion from the BSF in Tennessee, which was home to an experimental release of 14 female bears from Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 19961997. Females with offspring remain together throughout the second winter, and they again den as a family unit. As author Linda Masterson says in Living with Bears: With the black bear population healthy or growing across much of the continent, and people populations on the increase as well, people and black bears are encountering each other more often. They want nothing to do with people, which is great, Hast said. When the habitat can support more bears, the sows bear more females. This will often trigger its natural instinct to chase. Black bears are known for their stocky bodies, shaggy coats, and iconic crescent-shaped ears. Hast thinks thats exactly what happened to this guy, spotted in Jessamine County over the weekend: This looks like about a 2-year-old bear, Hast said. Births occur in January while the female is denning. The DNR urges citizens not to feed bears and to take other steps to avoid encounters with the animals. With its diverse mix of hardwood forests, rugged terrain, and abundant water sources, Daniel Boone National Forest is home to a wide variety of animals. Life happens quickly, so take a snapshot! Small amounts of the toxic chemicals benzene, naphthalene, and butadiene have been found around the perimeter of the site. Since 1998, the KDFWR has received sighting and nuisance reports from 54 Kentucky counties. The great majority of their time is spent alone and on a seemingly endless quest for food. They are known for their excellent sense of smell and are often attracted to human food sources, such as garbage cans and bird feeders. Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife have confirmed reports a black bear was spotted in Webster County Wednesday. A young male American black bear took a stroll through the University of Kentucky last year and continued his trip into downtown Lexington. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. You can find more information on bears here. The bear's sighting isn't a cause for alarm but a time for residents to prepare to avoid negative interactions with the animal if it does cross into Indiana, said Brad Westrich, a nongame mammalogist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Bury or move dead livestock away from living animals as carcasses will attract bears and other predators., Locate bee yards away from forest edges and riparian areas (river bottoms, creek drainages).. Doing so will not only prevent nuisance problems for you and your neighbors but will ultimately maintain the integrity of our bear population by keeping it wild. This includes white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrels, wild turkeys, raccoons, and even the occasional black bear. In Kentucky, historical accounts indicate that bears were These venomous snakes are known for their distinctive pattern of light and dark bands on their bodies, which provide excellent camouflage in their natural habitats. Photo: Debra Gibson Isaacs, All black bear cubs are born in the den around mid-January to early February. Their current range also includes the entire eastern region of the Commonwealth along the Southern Appalachian Mountains bordering Virginia and West Virginia. Since 2015, the state agency has confirmed three black bears in the Hoosier state. Favorite insect items include grubs and underground yellow jacket nests, which bears often dig up to consume this protein-rich food source. The best thing to do is identify the attractant and remove the source. Leave the windows and doors open and let the bear find its way out, she added. Let it go about its business and soon enough it will be gone.. Powerful legs and large claws give bears an incredible climbing ability. Indiana Wildlife Encounters: Where to Go to See Wild Animals? With a population of over a million, white-tailed deer are a common sight for both residents and visitors to the state. Bears are now being equipped with GPS (global positioning system) radio collars that link with orbiting satellites to remotely collect locations at varying time periods. Bears have an incredible sense of smell and are likely being lured by some type of food attractant. Prevent any conflicts by treating bears with respect as they are wild animals whose behaviors can be unpredictable. This is why fall food abundance prior to denning, primarily in the form of acorns, is critical for black bears in the Southern Appalachians. This is actually for the benefit forher young, as adult males will often kill smaller bears during the breeding season. Interactions between humans and bears have increased over the last four years, with more people reporting bears foraging for food and entering homes, city officials said. These impressive birds are known for their striking appearance, with males displaying a fan-shaped tail and wattled neck during courtship displays. He said if you have domestic animals like cats or dogs, keep them inside. Crowd control is the initial concern as the behavior of a cornered bear can be unpredictable. All, or parts for 47 Kentucky counties, will be open to black bear hunting in 2017, with a harvest quota of 50 bears. Officials do not want to push hungry bears further south if they run into an unbreakable trash can, Reynoso said. It was big news because central Kentuckians are not accustomed to seeing bears in their neighborhoods. https://www.kfvs12.com/2021/07/21/bear-spotted-henderson-webster-counties WebNever approach a bear! The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a familiar sight in Kentuckys woods and fields. Odors from cooking can travel long distances, so never leave grills unattended if you live in bear country. April 14, 2023 4:25 PM. During poor mast years, however, bears den later as it takes longer to acquire enough to make through the 34 month denning period in which bears do not eat, drink, urinate, or defecate. To large, remote tracts of quality forest habitat officials with Kentucky and! Byproduct of human-related foods male, they typically get kicked out of hibernation than... Watch a video of Hast discussing a bear, keep them inside crowd Control is the initial as... 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