black bear sightings in kentucky

black bear sightings in kentucky2020/09/28

Black bears are known for their stocky bodies, shaggy coats, and iconic crescent-shaped ears. The timing of den entry varies considerably and is primarily determined by sex, reproductive condition, and fall food availability. Richardson said mature male bears push smaller ones out of their typical ranges this time of year to encourage them to find their own place to relocate. A black bear was standing right next to him, just feet away. Dogs can be a great deterrent for keeping curious bears out of your yard. So please, encourage your neighbors to follow these important precautions. What to See? While black bears can be tolerant of people, they should always be treated as the wild animals they are, whether in a residential or backcountry area. Black bears are normally very elusive and shy animals and unless they have become accustomed to human food sources, they tend to avoid people. Today, Kentucky is home to a growing bear population that offers widespread viewing opportunities in the wild. WhatdidTasha do? CALDWELL COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) - Photos show an apparent bear sighting near Princeton, Kentucky. They are known for their playful behavior and are a popular sight at bird feeders in many Kentucky homes. They are slow-moving creatures that spend much of their time on land, foraging for food and seeking shelter in the undergrowth. Bears in Kentucky usually den in rock cavities, hollow trees, or open dens in thick brush piles. Cubs grow rapidly as their diet consists exclusively of high-calorie and fat-rich milk provided by the mothers fat reserve from the previous winters hard mast consumption. Its not pandemic related, said John Hast with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. The older bears want to fight and the female bears arent interested in them, so they go on these walkabouts.. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. If you do encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and never approach the bear. Be certain to face solar chargers so as to receive the most sunlight. If you do encounter a bear, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife urges you to keep a safe distance and never approach the bear. If a bear has continued access to garbage in a neighborhood, for instance, it may become increasingly dependent on that food source. But the chances of seeing an American black bear in Kentucky are increasing, especially in eastern and southeastern Kentucky, according to John Hast, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the state agency charged with conserving, protecting and enhancing the states wildlife. Kelly says black bears have a natural fear of people and adverse encounters with people are extremely rare. Bear sightings in Sierra Madre have increased in recent years, and city officials say they want the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to change its approach to dealing with But, he said, he "wouldn't necessarily call them attacks.". With its diverse mix of hardwood forests, rugged terrain, and abundant water sources, Daniel Boone National Forest is home to a wide variety of animals. John Hast, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, says with a little luck, you can see a bear on the Little Shepherd Trail, a winding mountain roadway that runs from Whitesburg to Kingdom Come State Park. In a recent news release, state biologists confirmed reports of bear tracks in Princeton last Monday, a bear sighting near Dixon on Wednesday and a sighting in Princeton on Saturday. Officials do not want to push hungry bears further south if they run into an unbreakable trash can, Reynoso said. It is suspected that growing bear numbers in McCreary County are the likely result of population expansion from the BSF in Tennessee, which was home to an experimental release of 14 female bears from Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 19961997. Following these simple guidelines will minimize any unnecessary and potentially dangerous encounters. Bears were also spotted last summer in Louisville. These areas are carefully managed to provide habitats for various wildlife species like white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, and other mammals. WebIndices of Black Bear distribution in Kentucky, 19872010. On Monday, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists confirmed bear tracks in southern Henderson County. Any sightings of this bear should be immediately reported either to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife by calling 1-800-858-1549 during business hours, or to local law enforcement. When bears are intentionally fed, they learn to associate people with food and lose their natural fear of humans. While once extirpated from Kentucky, black bears were reintroduced to the state in the 1990s and have since made a remarkable recovery. Bears can travel 20 miles or more in a day if undisturbed. Bury or move dead livestock away from living animals as carcasses will attract bears and other predators., Locate bee yards away from forest edges and riparian areas (river bottoms, creek drainages).. In the last decade, four "bear-human interactions" in and around the city limits have been reported, according to James Carlson, a city analyst. Store birdfeed inside or in a sturdy, enclosed structure. There was a problem saving your notification. According to CAMC, the sighting happened near Chesterfield Avenue in the area of the CAMC LabWorks, Gastroenterology, and new Center for Learning and Research. Generally, however, cubs that weighed only ounces at birth will emerge from their dens weighing 510 pounds and will be physically prepared to meet their new world. Wildlife viewing drives, hiking trails, and camping areas offer excellent opportunities to observe these animals in their natural environments. This is actually for the benefit forher young, as adult males will often kill smaller bears during the breeding season. HENDERSON CO., Ky. (WFIE) - Theres been a lot of talk about bear sightings this summer in southern Illinois and southern Indiana, and now reports are surfacing in western Kentucky. This is because males leave the territory in which they are born, while females traditionally share space within the mothers territory. Vast portions of the Kentucky region that were cleared for timber are once again mature hardwood forests. This expansive area is home to diverse habitats, including dense woodlands, open meadows, and marshes. Denning serves as a way for bears to not only survive but successfully produce offspring during the cold winter months when natural foods are almost nonexistent. Bear sightings in Sierra Madre have increased in recent years, and city officials say they want the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to change its approach to dealing with In addition, people who feed bears are teaching those animals to associate people with food. Black Bear sighting reported in Caldwell county, continues The parks diverse landscapes with forests, prairies, and rivers, are home to a variety of animals. 2. Situated along the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, this is a vast expanse of forests, wetlands, and grasslands that provides a haven for wildlife. As numberscontinue to expand, however, human-bear interactions have become commonplace and residents and visitors must learn to live in bear country. In doing so, they have increased opportunities to encounter human dwellings. After females are bred in June, the fertilized eggs remain in a state of arrested development and are not implanted in the uterus until the fall. During the spring and summer months, bears in the Southern Appalachians feed primarily on grasses and fruit, suchas blackberries, blueberries, and huckleberries. This time of year natural foods may be limited and bears could be looking for an easy meal. Make your presence known by yelling at the bear and slowly back away without turning your back. There, they assess the litter and the health aspects of both mom and cubs, Hast says. Emerging from dens weighing only 510 pounds, cubs have less than one year to learn the necessary skills to ensure their survival as solitary yearlings. State and local officials broke ground Monday on a $3.7 billion Eli Lilly manufacturing facility in Boone County. Copperhead snakes are generally shy and prefer to avoid confrontation with humans, but they can be dangerous if provoked. That's when you would want to get big and get loud and scream and wave your arms in the air," Rich said. Black bears are more common to be spotted in eastern Kentucky. Kentucky Black Bear Sightings. Be responsible and help us keep bears wild in Kentucky! This sighting provides an opportunity for Hoosiers in the area to secure outdoor grills, trashcans, or pet and bird food," he said. Black bears are known for their stocky Immediately report any instances of people feeding bears to the KDFWR by calling 1-800-25ALERT (1-800-252-5378). You can find more information on bears here. CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) Charleston Area Medical Center is warning its employees and patients to be cautious after a bear sighting at one of their Kanawha City locations. Richardson said sending out news releases allows the state to properly inform Kentuckians who may regularly see false reports on social media. Store garbage in a closed structure and put it out the morning of garbage pickup, not the night before. These distinctive turtles are known for their hard, dome-shaped shells and colorful patterns. The heaviest wild black bear ever reliably documented was an 880-pound, 10-year old male that was harvested on the coast of North Carolina in the fall of 1998. Male bears travel incredible distances throughout the breeding season of June and July, while movements by female bears are generally limited to the highest quality habitat available. Photos of the bear in Caldwell County, Kentucky were taken over the weekend. Animals exhibiting those behaviors are doing so because they have either been fed or have learned to feed on improperly stored garbage or pet food. As is the case with pets, injury or death to livestock is an uncommon occurrence in Kentucky. Leave the windows and doors open and let the bear find its way out, she added. Illinois Wild Animals Spotting: Where to Go? "They're very good at kind of taking advantage of what we call those unsecured attractants," she said about unattended food. Conditioned bears increasingly rely on human-related foods. Currently, black bears are the most abundant and widespread of all eight bear species in the world. If you do see a black bear, keep a safe distance. Bears are often up in trees and you may walk right by them without ever noticing. When the acorns drop this fall, theyll want to be in a naturally wooded area which is what eastern Kentucky has, Hast said. Prevent any conflicts by treating bears with respect as they are wild animals whose behaviors can be unpredictable. Black bears are very curious animals and this should not be confused with However, it also offers excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Research shows that male bears range over areas from 200500 km2; that is an area of approximately 77193 square miles! As such, garbage is the most abundant and widely distributed attractant available to bears. Fed bears lose their natural fear of people and become habituated to humans. If a bear approaches you in the wild, it is likely only trying to assess your presence. CALDWELL COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) - Photos show an apparent bear sighting near Princeton, Kentucky. Indiana Wildlife Encounters: Where to Go to See Wild Animals? The department says there are bear populations in both eastern Kentucky and in the Ozarks region of Missouri. Problems may be further addressed by purchasing or constructing a bear-resistant garbage container. He points out these bears get pushed out of the area by older, dominant males, and may wander up to several weeks or more into unfamiliar territory in search of good habitat and prospective mates before they return to the mountains where they were raised. the radio collar on a hibernating bear I'm sorry, you need to leave!'". Indiana residents who spot a bear in the state are encouraged to report those sightings using the DNRs large mammal report form or by calling DNR Law Enforcement at 812-837-9536. He said those calls included 17 incidents in which bears entered homes and caused property damage. The important thing to remember when dealing with nuisance behaviors, however, is that problem bears are not born- they are a product of their environment. Eastern Kentucky is the most likely place to spot a bear, although Hast says he would not be surprised to see a bear in any county. Since that time, there has been a slight but steady increase in the number of males in each litter. In Kentucky, females typically enter dens from mid-November to December. This is why fall food abundance prior to denning, primarily in the form of acorns, is critical for black bears in the Southern Appalachians. Reports have been made of black bear sighting in Caldwell County. Since 1998, the KDFWR has received sighting and nuisance reports from 54 Kentucky counties. The best thing to do to avoid them altogether is to feed your pets indoors, throw food scraps in the garbage instead of the yard, remove bird feeders in the spring and summer when food is naturally available, and finally let nature take its course. The eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina) is a fascinating reptile that can be found in Kentuckys woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. In the event of an attack, fight back using everything in your power - including fists, sticks, rocks, or any other debris. It's coming directly at you. "Let's say the animal approaches you and it's not backing away. Ward is unsure if its the same one seen near Rend Lake, but he did say bears can travel a lot. Daniel Richardson, a conservation officer with the state wildlife department, said the bears arent trying to harm people. Download a technical bulletin entitled Black Bears and Bee Yards. These bushy-tailed rodents are known for their acrobatic leaps from tree to tree and their habit of burying nuts to eat during the winter months. They have conducted other studies to collect hair samples, which are used to study bear genetics. While variant color phases may exist, bears are typically black with a brown muzzle and may exhibit a white patch on their chest. UTICA, Ind. An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Bear population growth rate figures come from extrapolating data from numerous sources, including a research program conducted by the University of Tennessee (UT), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Forest and Park services and the U.S. Geological Survey. All rights reserved. Locate calving grounds away form forest edges, and enclose with electric fencing if possible. For more information, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources website. Dept. All, or parts for 47 Kentucky counties, will be open to black bear hunting in 2017, with a harvest quota of 50 bears. Even so, there have been a handful of bear attacks in recent years. Store livestock feed inside a sturdy, enclosed structure. Powerful legs and large claws give bears an incredible climbing ability. David Oppenheimer was relaxing in a chair outside his home when he turned to see something startling. Valid hunting license and appropriate valid bear permits depending on season. If you want to take photos of bears or wildlife on a regular basis, invest in a telephoto lens so you dont need to be close to get a good shot. Although black bears are generally secretive towards people, they can become extremely tolerant in the presence of concentrated food sources. Since 2015, the state agency has confirmed three black bears in the Hoosier state. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - A black bear was recently spotted in a Whitley County neighborhood. Bear activity is on the rise across central Kentucky. Direct or indirect feeding of black bears is illegal in Kentucky!. From the rolling hills of the Bluegrass region to the rugged mountains of eastern Kentucky, state parks provide diverse habitats. ONE person feeding bears will create a problem animal that may affect multiple neighborhoods. They want nothing to do with people, which is great, Hast said. Additionally, costs associated with the installation of an electric fence can be minimal when compared to potential losses in money by the destruction of honey and bees. In case of a bear encounter, Richardson recommends walking away slowly and going indoors if possible. If a bear is reluctant to leave then proceed to throw rocks or other objects at the bear while continuing to yell. "Make a lot of noise and try to tell the animal, 'Hey! 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