Wildlife officials are sounding the alarm as black bears emerge from hibernation. They're warning homeowners about what can attract bears to their property.
What's happening?
A Maryland homeowner's security cameras caught a black bear wandering across the driveway in April, according to the MoCo Show. The bear made its way over to the Montgomery County home's trash and recycling bins, which were closed and secured, before strolling off the property. The bear was seen multiple times throughout town.
In a recent press release, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced black bears in the area had begun to vacate their dens after months of hibernation. Officials urged homeowners not to leave out items that could attract the animals.
Why are bear sightings more common?
Black bear sightings so early in the year are rare for the area, with Montgomery Parks saying most occur in June and July. However, last year, the group shared that "black bear sightings have become a common occurrence in Montgomery County between May and July."
The department says the bears people are seeing are often young males "striking out on their own, sometimes traveling considerable distances in search of a suitable home range to call their own." Officials say they're looking for food.
"After months of not eating or drinking, bears are hungry and in search of easy food," said Jonathan Trudeau, game mammal section leader for DNR's Wildlife and Heritage Service. "Black bears rely on their powerful sense of smell to locate food and are attracted to anything that resembles the scent of food. Once a black bear finds an easy meal, they are likely to be repeat visitors."
When bears come into contact with humans, it leaves the door open for attacks. If bears see humans as an easy food source, they'll become food-conditioned and could become aggressive.
What can be done?
The DNR has tips for homeowners who live near bear habitats. The primary concern is to remove anything that a bear could see as a food source.
Preserving forests as black bear habitats is also an important step. Human development often threatens these ecosystems by removing natural food sources, causing bears to move on in search of new ones. Bears are opportunistic omnivores, naturally foraging for berries, nuts, and other easily accessible foods.
Preserving their habitat will remove the need for them to search for their next meal and hopefully the need for them to come in contact with humans in surprise encounters.
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