Bear Spotted Roaming In Perryville, Police Say

PERRYVILLE, MD — A black bear was seen in the Perryville area, according to authorities. The Perryville Police Department shared the information as a public service announcement Friday morning but did not disclose a specific location for the animal.

Anyone who sees the bear should leave it alone and call 911, police said.

"Please use caution; do not approach, feed or shoot," the Perryville Police Department said in a statement around 10 a.m. "Bears are afraid of you as you are of them!"

Police asked people to call 911 to report any bear sightings, so the agency could "alert the proper officials."

Commenters on the Perryville Police Department's Facebook post said the bear had been seen in Chesapeake Landing, near the railroad tracks off Red Toad Road and by the golf course on Principio Furnace Road.

Maryland's black bear population is concentrated in Allegany, Garrett, Frederick and Washington counties, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

Black bears spend most of their time foraging for food, officials say, noting that before the winter, they stock up on nutrients, consuming up to 20,000 calories a day.

While most black bears stay within a 10- to 25-mile radius of where they live, baby bears may roam up to 200 miles from May to July in a process called "dispersing" as they try to find their own territory, natural resources officials say.

A bear in Havre de Grace was shot by police in June. Officers said they "had to euthanize the bear due to the high potential for a physical encounter with humans."

After dispersing, young bears usually settle in places with established bear populations in western Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

There are about 2,000 black bears in Maryland, according to natural resources officials, who say after dispersing, their activity tends to increase again in September, October and November as they forage for food before hibernating.

"Having black bears around is not an immediate threat, and like all wild animals, black bears should be treated with respect and given space," according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. "It is not uncommon to see black bears in the central part of the state (Baltimore County, Harford County, Montgomery County, etc.) due to seasonal movement."

If you see a bear, back away slowly and go inside, and take your pets inside too. If the bear stands upright, officials say this is not a sign of aggression; it is to enhance its sense of smell.

Here are tips to live harmoniously with bears:

• Never feed bears or other wildlife. Feeding bears is illegal in Maryland.
• Keep all pet food and bowls of water indoors at all times.
• Put garbage in sturdy containers with tight-fitting lids. Clean to minimize food odors.
• Contain compost in enclosed bins away from your residence.
• Stop filling bird feeders or move them out of reach.
• Secure and clean grills.
• Make loud noises to encourage bears to leave your yard. Leave an escape route for them.

Report bear-related emergencies to the Maryland Natural Resources Police at 410-260-8888.

See Also:

• Police Shoot Bear In Havre de Grace, Officials Say
• 'Cecil' the Bear Wanders into Aberdeen Proving Ground