After a lengthy cross-state tour, a black bear was recently sighted in suburban Virginia, according to The Washington Post.

What's happening?

The bear was seen in the town of Herndon, in Fairfax County. It had climbed a tree, but due to its proximity to power lines, police needed to wait until it descended before tranquilizing it.

The 800-pound black bear was lovingly dubbed Elden by locals after the street on which it was found. Elden had been captured once before, resulting in a tracking collar from Maryland's Department of Natural Resources. With this, authorities were able to determine that Elden had traveled from Maryland via the river to wander McLean, Vienna, Reston, and Herndon.

Why are bear sightings important?

As charming as these interactions may be, they're a sign of natural dysfunction. The degradation of bear habitats due to climate shifts and human development forces the animals to move further afield in search of food. 

Even with sufficient natural resources, humans offer a cornucopia of trash that can attract wildlife and disrupt its natural diet and habits. Worse still, this exposure to people reduces animals' fear of humans, which can lead to much more dangerous encounters. 

Preserving bear habitats and behaviors is key to benefiting from their vital ecosystem services, such as promoting soil health, dispersing seeds, and regulating prey species populations. 

The increasing frequency of these encounters is widespread. Bears have been making more contact with humans in Florida, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Ohio.

What's being done about bear encounters?

The bear in Herndon was ultimately tranquilized, but only after it climbed a second tree. It was then successfully relocated. 

Fairfax County offered a range of precautions for residents to take in order to protect themselves from bear encounters. These are useful no matter where you live in bear territory and include securing trash, removing bird feeders, and keeping BBQ grills clean.

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