Maryland's Hungry Black Bears Emerging From Hibernation

ANNAPOLIS, MD — After a long winter snooze, Maryland's black bears are starting to leave their dens to search for food, which can draw them to homes and sources of food left by residents not on guard against four-legged visitors. Natural food sources for bears — such as plants, berries and insects — are in short supply so far, so bears are looking for anything that smells like food, warn Maryland Department of Natural Resources officials.

The agency reminded residents Thursday in the state’s bear country to be proactive and exercise good judgment to avoid contact. “Keeping bears wild is a community effort that benefits both them and us,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said in a news release. “Using care to avoid attracting bears now will help keep them away throughout the year.”

Bears are most common in Maryland’s four westernmost counties – Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington. They typically make dens in wooded areas. Later in the spring and summer, year-old male bears tend to wander into populous areas looking for a chance to establish their territory.

To keep bears away from your house you should:

• Lock garbage in a bear-proof trash container, or keep it inside the house or garage until pickup.
• Rinse trash containers with ammonia to eliminate odors.
• Store cooking grills inside or keep them clean of food residue.
• Take down backyard bird-feeders from April through November ─ birds have plenty of wild food sources during these months.

In June 2016, a young black bear looking for a home visited the University of Maryland campus over the weekend and was spotted elsewhere in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. The year-old bear has spent the past month in eastern Maryland, also wandering through Howard County, where it hit the driving range and climbed a tree last week at the Timbers at Troy golf course in Elkridge.

Authorities believe the same bear was also spotted that week at Route 29 and Industrial Parkway in Silver Spring, then flipped over rocks to find lunch on the FDA campus in White Oak. The roving bear even stopped traffic on Interstate 70 and Route 29.

If you encounter a bear, you should treat it like a stray dog. “Give it plenty of space, don’t corner it,” Maryland bear biologist Harry Spiker said.

Black bear sightings in the state are most common in eastern Maryland in June and July. After dispersing, young bears usually settle in places with established bear populations in western Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service.

People should not to feed bears, and if they see them, to give the animals their space and leave them alone. Bears typically shy away from human contact.

Tips to live harmoniously with bears:

• Never feed bears or other wildlife (intentionally or unintentionally). Feeding black bears can seem fascinating and fun, but it is a recipe for disaster. Feeding bears is illegal in Maryland.
• Don’t leave bowls of pet food or water outside. If possible, keep all pet food indoors at all times.
• Keep garbage in sturdy, clean containers with tight-fitting lids. (Bear-proof cans are recommended in areas where bear interactions become common.) Secure all trash cans and clean them regularly to minimize strong food odors as much as possible.
• Keep compost that contains food materials in enclosed bins away from your residence.
• Keep bird feeders out of reach. Do not overfill bird feeders, and stop filling them prior to the month of April. (It has been said that “In April, a bird feeder becomes a bear feeder.”)
• Keep barbecue grills clean and secure.
• Always walk your dogs on a leash.
• Do not tolerate bears becoming comfortable around your yard – encourage them to leave by making loud noises, etc.

More information on living and camping in bear country is available here. Any bear-related issues or questions can be directed to 301-777-2136.

»Black bear photo courtesy of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources