Five Things You Should Know About Recent Bear Sightings in the DC Area

Maryland and Virginia have seen at least three bear-related incidents in the past 10 days.

Three times in the past 10 days, people in Maryland and Virginia have reported encounters with bears -- including one violent attack.

A bear attacked a 63-year-old woman in Frederick County Wednesday night after perceiving the woman was a threat to her cubs, authorities said. The victim, Karen Osborne, suffered a broken arm and cuts to the head and required more than 70 stitches. The state’s Department of Natural Resources later used a tracking device to find the bear and euthanized it.

Two bears, believed to be a mother and a cub, were spotted near two Prince William County elementary schools on Nov. 9, and a cub was spotted again near Haymarket Elementary Wednesday morning. The schools canceled outdoor afternoon activities and there were no injuries in either case, according to posts on Prince William County Public Schools’ Facebook page.

Why are there so many bear reports lately -- and should people be concerned? News4 found some answers.

Why now?

Bear sightings are especially common this time of year as bears move around in search of food before hibernating, said Harry Spiker, a bear biologist for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

“Right now the bears are making that one last push to get some food before they hibernate,” Spiker said. “And with this warm weather they're going to stay out a little more than they would usually, so they’re taking advantage of this opportunity to get more calories.”

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The animals are also more active when the weather is cooler and during low-light hours, said Lee Walker, outreach director for Virginia’s Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. So, as the temperature drops and days gets shorter, people might be more likely to see a bear out looking for food, Walker said.

How many bears are in the area?

Both Maryland and Virginia have “healthy” black bear populations, Spiker and Walker said.

Maryland has an estimated 2,000 adult and subadult bears in the state’s four western counties: Garrett, Allegany, Frederick and Washington, Spiker said. The population has been growing because the bears' habitat is improving at last, after a period of habitat destruction and population decline, he added.

Bears sometimes might wander over into western Montgomery County or pass through other central counties like Howard and Baltimore, but this time of year it’s uncommon to spot a bear outside of Western Maryland, Spiker said.

The estimated black bear population in Virginia is between 17,000 and 18,000 animals, according to Walker. Bears can be found just about anywhere in the state, although sightings are less frequent in counties along the Chesapeake Bay, Walker said. The highest concentration of bears occurs in the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains and near the Great Dismal Swamp.

Should I be worried about bears in my area?

Good news: Walker says there is “really nothing to fear."

Black bears are typically docile animals and rarely interact with humans, Walker said. They are nowhere near as large or dominating as brown bears or grizzly bears that live out west, he added.

“Most of the times, bears are just simply roaming looking for their next meal,” Walker said. “And if there’s not a meal there they’re just going to keep on moving."

Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday’s attack in Frederick County was the first in the state’s recent history. “Nine times out of 10” a bear will see you and run from the area before you see it, Spiker said.

“What happened yesterday is an extremely rare thing,” Spiker said. “Bears typically want to get out of our way.”

But problems may occur when the animals get used to being fed.

Bears may wander into residential areas searching for food in trash cans, bird feeders or grills. Pet food left outside can also attract bears. To prevent bear interactions, Walker and Spiker said people should remove food sources from their lawns: keep trash in a garage or enclosure until garbage pickup, don’t put bird feeders out until the winter months, and never feed leave food out for a bear or feed a bear you come in contact with.

“When bears become neighborhood bears looking for food, it changes things,” Spiker said.

What should I do if I come across a bear?

If you come across a bear and the bear does not see you, Spiker said to enjoy the sighting, keep a safe distance and leave the area.

Don’t approach a bear or act aggressively. But also, but don’t be alarmed, Walker said.

If the bear does notice you, stand your ground, make yourself big and speak in a firm voice, Spiker said. If you back away slowly, the bear will likely go about its business, Walker said.

In Wednesday’s Frederick County incident, the attack ended when the victim dropped into fetal position and the bear realized there was no threat to her cub.

How long will bears be out and about?

Spiker said bears typically begin hibernating right about now in mid-November, but some won't until as late as mid-December.

But bears might stay out longer due to warm weather in the region, and other animals might skip hibernation altogether, Spiker added. 

"It is not uncommon for some bears to not hibernate at all if they're getting enough calories," he said. "It's all an energy conservation game. If they're getting enough calories and not having to expend too many, they might just stay awake."

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