VCE NEWS: Living with black bears in Virginia

Black bears and human populations commonly coexist in many parts of North America. Black bears occur throughout most of the Commonwealth, although the highest concentration of bears occur in the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains and around the Great Dismal Swamp.
Human-bear encounters in Virginia are increasing as the black bear population increases and residential areas encroach into forested lands and habitats commonly used by wildlife. 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.
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) has established nuisance bear guidelines that promote public safety, protect property, and conserve bear populations. You can minimize negative interactions with bears by addressing problems immediately and following some simple guidelines.
If problems are ignored, property damage can not only get worse, but bears may lose their distrust of humans. Bears habituated to humans pose public safety concerns and may need to be destroyed.
You Can Prevent Nuisance Bear Problems
Keep your property clear of food attractants. After a few failed attempts to find food, bears will usually leave the area and return to more normal wild food items. Bears have tremendous memories and therefore, they may return for as many as 10-14 days looking for free food sources.
• Secure your garbage: Store garbage indoors, in a shed, in a garage, or a bear-proof container.
• Put garbage out in the morning of pickup, not the night before.
• Take trash to the dump frequently.
• Pick up pet food: Feed pets only what they will eat in a single feeding or feed them indoors.
Pick up uneaten food. Do not leave food out overnight.
• Remove the bird feeder: Bears consume seeds and nuts found in the wild, so bird feeders become a favored target for bears.
• Clean the outdoor grill often.
• Do not put meat scraps or any other strong-smelling food in the compost pile.
• Pick up and remove ripe fruit from fruit trees and surrounding grounds.
• Install electric fencing to protect beehives, dumpsters, gardens, compost piles
• Talk to your neighbors: Make sure your neighbors & community are aware of the ways to prevent nuisance bear problems.
If You Encounter a Bear at Home:
In almost all cases, the bear will detect you first and leave the area. If a bear is on or near your property, do not escalate the situation by approaching, crowding around, or chasing the bear. This also applies to bears that have climbed up a tree. The best thing you can do is leave it alone. Unprovoked bear attacks are very rare, and have never been documented in Virginia. If you do meet a bear here are some suggestions:
• 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 unless 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.

Common Black Bear Myths
Myth: A bear standing on its hind legs is about to charge or attack.
Fact: A bear stands on its hind legs to get a better view and smell of the surroundings. This is not an aggressive posture, just a way to determine who or what piqued its interest.
Myth: Bears are dangerous predators.
Fact: Although classified as carnivores, black bears are omnivores - eating both plants and animals. Over 80% of their diets consist of vegetation, fruit, and nuts. The remainder includes mostly insects and larva, carrion, fish, and occasionally small mammals.
Myth: One of the most dangerous encounters is getting between a mother black bear and her cubs.
Fact: Because black bears can tree their cubs, it is rare for them to injure a person in that situation. Black bear cubs are great at climbing and will be sent up a tree if the mother bear feels nervous about a situation. Just like with any young animals you never want to try to get near them. If you see a mother bear and cubs give them some space, be quiet, and retreat slowly.
Myth: Bears are unpredictable.
Fact: Bears use body language and vocalizations to show their intentions. Learning about bear behavior can be beneficial to people who travel in bear country.

Report unresolved problems or damage
If you experience a bear problem after taking appropriate steps of prevention, you may seek additional assistance by contacting VDGIF or local law enforcement. To find the VDGIF office nearest you, call the Department's law enforcement dispatch at (804) 367-1258.
For more information, please contact the Virginia Cooperative Extension - Greene County Office.
VCE brings unbiased, research-backed knowledge into local communities to promote community development. The direction of this development is based on the needs that Greene County citizens identify and prioritize. Our assistance ranges from youth leadership development and animal/crop/soil and farm business management to home gardening, entrepreneurship, community planning, food and nutrition, parenting and childcare. And much more!!
The office is located at 10013 Spotswood Trail in Stanardsville. In the same building as the Sheriff's office and Social Services. Cathryn Kloetzli cathrynk@vt.edu, 434.985.5236, http://offices.ext.vt.edu/greene/