A Bear Warning: Vienna Police Share Tips

VIENNA, VA—Spotting a bear in your backyard might not be as common as finding a deer or fox. But after hibernation season ends, it's more likely to see them out scouring for food.

In fact, there have been numerous bear sightings around the region. One resident in Vienna wrote on Patch about a young cub at the W&OD trail on May 30, while another reader found a bear roaming near a major road in Herndon earlier in the month. Another cub paid a visit to the National Weather Service grounds in Sterling on May 21.

According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, bears occupy areas outside Fairfax County, including the bordering Loudoun and Prince William counties. There have been occasional or confirmed sightings in Fairfax County.

Black bears and their cubs emerge from hibernation in search of food between March and May. In most cases they avoid people and would rather flee than confront humans.

To minimize the chance of encountering a bear, here are some tips:

• Remove bird feeders.
• Secure your garbage. Store garbage indoors, in a shed, garage, or in a bear-proof container. Put garbage out on the morning of pickup, not the night before, or take it to the dump frequently.
• Pick up pet food. Feed pets only what they will eat in a single feeding or feed them indoors.
• Do not put meat scraps in the compost pile. Keep compost away from house.
• Pick up and remove ripe fruit from fruit trees and surrounding grounds.
• Clean the grill often. Do not dump drippings in your yard.
• Install electric fencing to protect beehives, dumpsters, gardens, compost piles, or other potential food sources.
• Don’t store food, freezers, refrigerators, or trash on porches.

If you see a 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 there is a bear 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 there is a bear 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.

Vienna Police do not typically handle calls about bears unless the animal is sick, injured or poses a threat to public safety. Sightings should be reported to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries through the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 855-571-9003.