Black bears are naturally shy animals and not known for aggressive behavior. Distribution: The American black bear is found only in North America. Black bear photo Roy Mac on Flickr (all rights reserved; used by permission). Join us and I will tell you everything. Black bears are thriving in Shenandoah National Park and in Virginia as a whole. 2. Some bears may not den at all if they continue to find sufficient food. Types of human-bear conflicts logged at West Virginia DNR District offices 2008 to 2017. If the carcass of a bear with signs of mange is removed from the harvest site, the hunter should try to dispose of the pelt by double-bagging or returning it to the site of harvest. If you see a bear, enjoy watching from a distance. After ensuring the bear has an escape route, make lots of noise to encourage it to leave. High 49F. as a result of recreational bear harvest. In reality, most problems caused by bears are really people problems. See answer (1) Best Answer. There are no definite rules about what to do if you meet a bear. Chance of rain 80%.. When bears emerge from their dens, understandably hungry, they immediately begin to search for food. Bears, National Park Service Dispose of garbage properly. Additional research is being considered that could provide information on survival, movements, transmission routes, and potential susceptibility of certain populations in Virginia. Visit the DWR Black Bear webpage for more information on living with black bears in Virginia as well as additional information on mange in black bears. The act of hibernating is instinctual. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. You can help your community and the bear population by keeping your property clear of food attractants and communicating with your neighbors to resolve community bear concerns. The American Black Bear lives throughout much of the continent, including northern Canada and Alaska south into Mexico, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Fact: Because black bears can tree their cubs, it is rare for them to injure a person in that situation. Fish and Wildlife Service declared this subspecies of cougar, or mountain lion, extinct in 2015. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources has established bear guidelines that promote public safety, protect property, and conserve bear populations. Wipe table and clean eating area thoroughly. Bears are omnivorous and their diets vary seasonally. Bears typically den (hibernate) in fall (late October-early December) and emerge in spring (March-April). Black bears (Ursus americanus) are 5 to 6 feet long (nose to rump), typically stand 2.5 to 3 feet at the shoulder, and weigh 100 to 400 lbs. Black bears breed in June or July and females breed only every other year. Bear, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Sort By: This bear will quickly lose its fear of typical human deterrents and could present Species: Ursus americanus. should be disinfected (e.g., 40% bleach solution or other disinfectant cleaner for equipment and clothing) if suspected of being in contact with a mange-infested bear or with a dog that has come into contact with a mange-infested bear. The adult black bear has small eyes, rounded ears, a long snout, a large body, and a short tail. Make sure children are close to you or within your sight at all times. If you see a mother bear and cubs give them some space, retreat slowly, and do not scream or yell. Black bears gorge during the Fall on acorns and whatever else they can find, then stay in a den (usually a hollow tree) during the winter. Quietly back away and leave the area. Severely affected bears are typically emaciated, lethargic, and often found wandering apparently unaware of their surroundings. At this time, there is no known, effective, long-acting treatment for mange in wild black bear populations. When they emerge from the winter den the mother teaches the cubs which plants to eat and where to find the grubs and other insects that will supplement their diets. Contaminated clothing should be washed and machine-dried with heat or placed in a freezer overnight to kill any mites. These research Is it legal or advisable to euthanize a problem bear? The key to avoiding human-bear conflicts is to remove or secure food attractants such as unsecured trash cans and pet food bowls before a bear finds them. Secure it with your food and then pack it out. Black Bear Bait Station Survey was conducted during the month of July in 11 east Tennessee counties by 26 Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency personnel, interns, and volunteers. were once viewed as an animal of the wilderness and were thought to need large Most visitors who see black bears in West Virginia are simply lucky, but you can increase your chances if you know where to look. A hibernating animal will experience a slow heartbeat rate as well as lower body temperatures matching that of the environment. However, bears typically leave the den beginning in mid-March and re-enter the den beginning in mid-November. Bear movements are tied to food sources. Hibernators the size of chipmunks hibernate differently. In a blue state like Colorado those repeal efforts might get some traction, but theyre not likely to be replicated in red states like West Virginia. As their name indicates, these bears generally have shaggy black hair. On the eastern side of the Blue Ridge, the last bear was reported in Albemarle County in 1910. Black bears can be found all along the Appalachian Mountains, in the Piedmont area, as well as sporadically along the coast. DNR recommends taking the following actions if you encounter a bear: Be aware that bears are leaving their dens in March and will readily take advantage of human food sources, Carpenter said. Dispersing yearlings, especially males, looking for new home ranges may also travel a great distance. Minimize the congregation of bears (and other animals) by removing or securing potential attractants. bearwise.org. var pfHeaderImgUrl = 'https://extension.wvu.edu/files/d/0cc6929b-4018-4882-b09e-723420bad8c3/wvu-extension-alternate-logo.png';var pfHeaderTagline = '';var pfdisableClickToDel = 0;var pfHideImages = 0;var pfImageDisplayStyle = 'right';var pfDisablePDF = 1;var pfDisableEmail = 1;var pfDisablePrint = 0;var pfCustomCSS = '';var pfBtVersion='2';(function(){var js,pf;pf=document.createElement('script');pf.type='text/javascript';pf.src='//cdn.printfriendly.com/printfriendly.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(pf)})(); By the early 1970s, the black bear, West Virginias state animal, could only regularly (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). The West Adult bears have a very low natural mortality rate (less than 2%) and may live up to 30 years in an un-hunted population. Imagine what that does to the ecosystem and your experience as a visitor coming to see a bear. Turn on a flashlight or lantern. Citizens, communities, local governments, and DWR share the responsibility in preventing problems and keeping bears wild. DON'T climb trees to escape a bear. Bears are omnivorous and their diets vary seasonally. More information about how to handle black bear encounters can be found at www.wvdnr.gov. Others will tolerate bears raiding their bird feeders or scattering No guarantee is made that information (or lack of information) associated with a species or control technique is completely accurate or current. Foraging activities by bears probably help with decomposition in forested environments where they tear apart logs and snags to gain access to insects or where they may excavate plants from the ground. Congratulations to West Virginia gun owners, legislators, and Gov. There is no such thing as a wild black panther living in West Virginia. Black bears are the only species of bear found in Shenandoah National Park. Order: Carnivora living in close proximity to people vary greatly. Habitat destruction and expansion of suburban areas can result in reduced habitat quanitity or quality for bears. The Legislature officially adopted the black bear as the state animal of West Virginia on March 23, 1973. Chipmunks do not sleep through the entire winter however, they wake every few days to feed on stored food and to urinate and defecate. Females will have their cubs around February and nurse them in the den. This was an extensive series of studies that also examined the relationship between gypsy moth defoliation and bear ecology. Hello everybody. Female black bears usually breed every other year and cubs are born from early January to mid-February. Anywhere from 1-4 cubs are born at a time and are raised by their mother for about 1 years. Stop. Females will have their cubs around February and nurse them in the den. ). Family: Ursidae WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran. Starting on July 1st of next year, West Virginias public colleges and universities will no longer be gun-free zones where the right to bear arms is not allowed. Remain at a safe distance and throw rocks to make the bear feel unwelcome. Make yourself look as big as possible by spreading your arms or, better yet, a coat. DWR evaluates each report on a case-by-case basis to determine a response. Make as much noise as possible by yelling, banging pots and pans or using other noisemaking devices. Black bears are the only species of bear found in Shenandoah National Park. steps allowed the healthy growth of West Virginias bear population. Depending on the time of year, adult female black bears commonly weigh between 90 to 250 pounds. It is an exciting time of the year for bears and park visitors. Move some distance away from your cooking area or food-storage site. They also frequent garbage dumps or may raid the trash bins of businesses or private homes. foods are scarce when bears leave the den in the spring and bears will readily Mites can transfer to a new host when an unaffected animal comes into direct physical contact with an infested host. During the same time period, West Virginias All Rights Reserved. Young bears become independent the following spring. In predicting black bear population dynamics, one factor that wildlife biologists Leave your dog at home or have it on a leash at all times. According to data from recreational sightings, hunter harvest, road kills, and Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) field staff, bears occur in at least 92 of Virginias 98 counties and cities. Prevention is the key to avoiding human-bear conflicts in most instances. Preventing problems and keeping bears wild at this time, there is no known, effective when do bears hibernate in west virginia long-acting treatment mange... 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