Lockdown At Fallston High School Prompted By Bear Sighting On School Grounds

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Fallston High School students found themselves on lockdown Monday all thanks to a furry intruder.

School officials sent an email to parents and guardians of students that explained the situation.

The email shared by WBFF read:

Good afternoon. Today, Monday, June 12, 2023, we went on a brief lockdown, keeping all students and staff indoors, when a bear was seen in the area of school grounds. Our dismissal will proceed as normal with SRO’s and staff present to ensure the safety of students as they board buses. Students waiting to be picked up will remain in the building until their ride arrives. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this unusual situation.

A black bear was spotted recently in the back yard of a house in the 6900 block of Forest Hill of University Park. City officials have warned residents to use caution when walking dogs or being outside while the bear actively roams around town.

A black bear also was spotted that same day in the 4300 block of Oglethorpe Street in Hyattsville and a black bear recently was seen roaming around neighborhoods in Howard County, Catonsville and Windsor Mill.

Black bears emerge from their hibernation in the spring in search of food and breed in June and July. Young male bears tend to wander into new areas looking for a chance to establish their own territory and can be seen in urban areas, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources shared.

Maryland DNR officials say while bear sightings in residential areas aren't uncommon but don't happen all that often. Still, residents need to use caution.

Black bears are naturally attracted to items found on or near a home such as birdseed, chicken feed, dog food and even trash. Homeowners who leave human-generated food sources out in the open may unintentionally draw bears to residential areas, and once a black bear finds an easy meal, they are likely to be repeat visitors, the DNR advises.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recommends that residents and visitors of Maryland’s bear country:

• Remove backyard bird feeders from April through November (birds have plenty of wild food sources during this time);
• Lock garbage in a bear-proof trash bin or store trash containers in a locked garage or shed until the morning of trash pickup; rinse out trash containers with ammonia to eliminate odors;
• Store pet food and bowls inside;
• Keep grills clean and clear of food residue and when not in use store them inside when possible.

“Keeping bears wild is a community effort that benefits both the bears and their human neighbors alike,” said Wildlife and Heritage Acting Director Karina Stonesifer. “Using care to avoid attracting bears now will help keep them wild and in the woods throughout the year.”

Bears are most common in Maryland’s four westernmost counties – Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington. However, they can be found anywhere in central and southern Maryland.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently partnered with BearWise, a non-governmental organization dedicated to providing the public with sound, relevant and easily interpretable information on black bears. For more information about living with black bears and bear behavior, residents should visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources black bear website or BearWise.