Black Bear Caught On Video Rummaging For Food In McLean Backyard

MCLEAN, VA — A black bear was spotted rummaging for food in a trash bin Sunday afternoon at a home near McLean Hamlet Park.

The McLean resident contacted Fairfax County Police, who put the resident in touch with animal control. Animal protection officers told the resident not to get close to the bear and to wait for the bear to leave before going outside, the resident told Patch.

The resident then warned neighbors about the bear and posted a video of the bear on Nextdoor. The resident, who did not want to be identified, gave the video to Patch, with permission to share.

In response to the video, one neighbor remarked on Nextdoor, "Wow! A beauty. Big indeed!"

"This bear is working his/her way over the area. I hope he/she has a safe place to wind up," another neighbor wrote.

In June, a black bear was spotted in Arlington’s Maywood community, walking through people’s yards and onto porches as it headed to a park on the east side of the neighborhood near the Custis Trail.

According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, black bears have a natural distrust of humans, are shy, and usually avoid people. However, bears may be attracted to food sources in residential areas and, over time, may become more comfortable around people.

"Often a bear in your yard is just passing through and, if it finds no food, will simply move on," the DWR says. "Don’t allow the bear to feel comfortable in your yard. After ensuring the bear has an escape route, make lots of noise to encourage it to leave."

Bears need personal space, so always give them an escape route. Never get between a sow and her cubs. And it's very important to never run from a bear because it will want to chase you.

Black bears in Virginia feed mainly on berries and fruits, nuts, grasses and insects. Their diet is approximately 75 percent vegetarian.

Animal control officials urge residents to follow recommendations from the DWR:

• Keep garbage in a locked shed or inside until collected, or use a bear resistant container.
• Secure any compost piles.
• Secure pet food in bear-resistant containers or inside locked sheds.
• Clean up porches/decks. Clean grills including drip pans, remove any potential food sources, and remember a screened in porch is not a “secure” storage area from a bear’s point of view.
• Never leave food, trash, or pet food inside your vehicle.
• Keep dogs on a leash at all times.

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