Bear Takes Walk Through VA Neighborhood On Trash Night

HAYMARKET, VA — The middle of the night is a perfect time for a black bear to go wandering through a neighborhood in a Washington suburb. Chances are slim the bear will come into contact with a human, making it easier for the bear to enjoy the sights and search for food without interruptions.

When they woke up on Friday, Dec. 20, homeowners in Haymarket had video to prove that a medium-sized black bear had gone for a walk on their street around 3 a.m. after a doorbell camera caught the bear sauntering through their front yard and across their driveway.

The bear, who didn't disturb the minivan and SUV parked in the driveway, may have had his eye on the contents of trash bins in the neighborhood. In the video as seen on the Neighbors app, there are trash or recycling bins at the curb in front of the the house, which means Friday was probably trash pickup day in this Haymarket community.

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Black bear sightings are becoming more common in northern Virginia in residential areas. In September, another Haymarket resident said a bear knocked over the trash cans outside his house, rummaged through the can's contents and dragged off a garbage bag.

Earlier this month, a Virginia Department of Transportation crew found a dead black bear in an eastbound lane of Interstate 66 near the Manassas rest stop. A vehicle probably hit and killed the bear, although the motorist failed to stop or call the police to let them know about the accident.

It's probably a good thing if bears take their walks through populated areas in the middle of the night. Although interactions between bears and humans are rare, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has some advice should you come across a black bear:

• Stay calm. If you see a bear and it has not seen you, calmly leave the area. As you move away, make noise to let the bear discover your presence.
• Stop. Back away slowly while facing the bear.
• Give the bear plenty of room to escape. Bears rarely attack people unless they feel cornered or provoked.
• Do not run or make any sudden movements. Running could prompt the bear to give chase, and you cannot outrun a bear. If on a trail, step off the trail and slowly leave the area.
• If a bear is in your yard and it approaches you, make yourself look big and make loud noises. Remain at a safe distance and throw rocks to make the bear feel unwelcome.
• If a bear is in your house, prop open all doors to the outside and get out of the way of the exit. Never close a bear into a room. Make noises and yell at bear to leave the house. Don't approach the bear but make sure it knows it is violating your territory.
• If you surprise a bear, speak softly. This may reassure the bear that you mean it no harm.
• Fight back. If a black bear attacks you, fight back. Black bears have been driven away when people have fought back with rocks, sticks, binoculars and even their bare hands.

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