If you do encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and never approach the bear. Kentucky Wildlife Diversity: Where to Find Wild Animals? Biologically, male bears may reach maturity at three to four years of age, but their ability to breed is often limited due to the presence of older, more mature males. Injuries to pets by black bears are not a common occurrence in Kentucky. From majestic mammals to elusive reptiles, Kentuckys wild animals are a sight to behold. Don't Leave! They have conducted other studies to collect hair samples, which are used to study bear genetics. It was big news because central Kentuckians are not accustomed to seeing bears in their neighborhoods. Watch a video of Hast discussing a bear sighting in Jessamine County. If a person does encounter a bear in the wild, it's best to back away with hands at the hips and leave the bear an open escape route, Rich said. Fed bears lose their natural fear of people and become habituated to humans. John Hast, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, checks on cubs in McCreary County. Kentucky offers a wealth of opportunities for wildlife viewing. The threat is possible, however, and simple precautions can eliminate this unnecessary problem. 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. UTICA, Ind. WhatdidTasha do? Wildlife viewing should be accompanied by respecting the animals and their habitats and keeping a safe distance. Black Bear sighting reported in Caldwell county, continues Tasha was roaming around in MarchRogers said, but then we had an unusually warm March. Its a nice drive, Hast says, with exceptional views from north to south. Kentucky is home to a growing bear population that offers frequent and widespread viewing opportunities in the wild. Kelly says black bears have a natural fear of people and adverse encounters with people are extremely rare. Help protect Kentuckys bears by being responsible and following our guidelines for living in bear country. The black bear is a powerful animal with The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife confirms bear tracks have been spotted in southern Henderson County. Kentucky Black Bear Sightings. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. If you draw a diagonal line from Cumberland County to Lewis County, you will find that these counties have a resident bear population, some sparse and some robust.. And like the early pioneers, we have a choice to make.. Instead, the proper storage of human-related foods and never feeding bears is the key. UTICA, Ind. Nuisance reports peak in June and July for two reasons. Even so, there have been a handful of bear attacks in recent years. 2. A black bear that was first confirmed last week in Henderson has now made its way south, through Webster County and Caldwell County into rural Hopkins County, following a reported sighting on Wednesday night in the Dunn Church area north of Dawson Springs and another on Thursday morning near Ilsley. Bears in Kentucky usually den in rock cavities, hollow trees, or open dens in thick brush piles. They are excellent climbers and are often seen scaling trees or exploring for food along riverbanks. Black bears are more common to be spotted in eastern Kentucky. Careful maintenance of barbeque grills is an overlooked precaution that will prevent unwanted visits by bears and other wildlife. Non-invasive approaches ( Mowat and Paetkau 2002) have become a preferred empirically based approach to estimate population sizes than less standardized ones (e.g., roadkill surveys). The copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a venomous snake that is common in Kentuckys woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. https://www.kfvs12.com/2021/07/21/bear-spotted-henderson-webster-counties At about 16 months of age, the yearling bears disperse soon as the mother comes into estrus in preparation for the breeding season. Be responsible and help us keep bears wild in Kentucky! Consequently, bears that filtered into Kentucky from our Southern Appalachian neighbors had access to large, remote tracts of quality forest habitat. Clear growing vegetation away from the lowest as this will ensure a closed circuit and render maximum charge upon contact with the fence. For more information on the North AmericanBearCenter go towww.bear.org. UTICA, Ind. A black bear was standing right next to him, just feet away. He said if you have domestic animals like cats or dogs, keep them inside. Bears will often stand upright to obtain a better sense of smell. Females with offspring generally emerge from dens in March or April. Following these simple guidelines will enable you to minimize human-bear conflicts and help the KDFWR better manage our growing bear population. Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife have confirmed reports a black bear was spotted in Webster County Wednesday. They may also stand up to play Hes trying to find a spot for him to live, and its not going to be around here. Natural foods for songbirds are abundant in the summer months when bears are most active, so removing feeders will have no negative impact on birds.. 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. Download a technical bulletin entitled Black Bears and Bee Yards. Thats as high a growth rate as you will find anywhere in the southeast United States. There is no reason that you should ever be within 150 feet of a bear. Hell eventually make his way back to the mountains.. So, a young male, they typically get kicked out of the breeding range. Sometimes, the bear pictures and black panther pictures or mountain lion pictures, they get passed around all over the country, Richardson said. Dogs can be a great deterrent for keeping curious bears out of your yard. To date, the largest bear handled in Kentucky was a 480-pound adult male that was captured as a research animal during the summer of 2008. Multiple bear sightings reported across central Kentucky. Ultimately, relocating bears is not an effective long-term management tool. Although black bears are generally secretive towards people, they can become extremely tolerant in the presence of concentrated food sources. In those instances, bears may have to be trapped, relocated, or even killed. Henry Amos said Tuesday at a City Council meeting. To learn more about Bear Hunting in Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. Interactions between humans and bears have increased over the last four years, with more people reporting bears foraging for food and entering homes, city officials said. Store pet food inside or in a solid, enclosed structure. fight or actually fight with another bear. While relocation is an option to the immediate issue it will not solve the underlying problem. "The intent is to show the state that the policies in place are not working for Sierra Madre," City Manager Jose Reynoso said. To report a bear sighting in your area call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife at 800-858-1549 or email Info.Center@ky.gov. Thats one of thescientific queriesTasha,born in southern Kentucky,is answering for bear biologists. As author Linda Masterson says in Living with Bears: With the black bear population healthy or growing across much of the continent, and people populations on the increase as well, people and black bears are encountering each other more often. These venomous snakes are known for their distinctive pattern of light and dark bands on their bodies, which provide excellent camouflage in their natural habitats. He also had advice for anyone who happens to spot the animal. The great majority of their time is spent alone and on a seemingly endless quest for food. Feeding bears is the worst thing that people can do when it comes to creating human-bear conflicts. Realize that These distinctive turtles are known for their hard, dome-shaped shells and colorful patterns. CALDWELL COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) - Photos show an apparent bear sighting near Princeton, Kentucky. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a highly adaptable and omnivorous mammal that is commonly found in Kentuckys forests, wetlands, and urban areas. Photos of the bear in Caldwell County, Kentucky were taken over the weekend. Bill to allow Indiana counties to use outdated flood maps passes state House, Eli Lilly breaks ground on $3.7 billion investment in Boone County, Richmond residents told they can return home, firefighters still checking for hotspots. It is not unusual in the early summer for young male bears to wander outside of the established bear range in Eastern Kentucky. Tasha joined three other American Black Bears at the North American Bear Center in Ely, Minnesota. Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife have confirmed reports a black bear was spotted in Webster County Wednesday. It is an ideal location to spot a wide range of animals. A black bear was standing right next to him, just feet away. Inside the den of a radio collared female black bear. 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. In 2015, a black bear entered the state from Michigan, becoming the first black bear confirmed in Indiana since the 1870s, DNR said. If you feel a bear is posing an immediate danger, they ask you call local law enforcement. There was a problem saving your notification. As human development continues and bear numbers increase, however, interactions will be unavoidable. Bears have a bit of built-in physiological magic, according to Hast. If a bear is close enough that you feel uncomfortable, slowly back away, continuing to yell while watching the bear at all times. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife maintains an extensive amount of information about black bears on its website. Keep in mind the following notes if you see people feeding bears: It is important to remember that bears are powerful animals and their behavior can be unpredictable. Access to garbage, pet food, and intentional feeding creates behaviors in bears that are neither safe for humans nor beneficial to bears. Visitors may spot deer, squirrels, turkeys, raccoons, and black bears. FBI arrests 2 men accused of establishing undercover police station in New York for China, Gov. Black bears, like this one pictured in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Suffolk, Virginia, are rarely seen in Indiana. The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a familiar and charismatic mammal found throughout Kentuckys woodlands and urban areas. Bears are incredible diggers- irregularities in terrain should be filled in with heavy debris so as to prevent bears from crawling under low points. Leave it alone. Some counties saw a 20% growth rate in the number of American black bears last year, Hast says. Prevent any conflicts by treating bears with respect as they are wild animals whose behaviors can be unpredictable. If you see a bear in your neighborhood, remove birdfeeders for a minimum of 7 days. WebOnce abundant throughout the United States, the historic range of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) was significantly reduced by habitat loss and fragmentation. 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. All bear species have an incredible sense of smell. The potential does exist, however, so we encourage landowners to minimize conflicts by following these guidelines. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. Kentucky Historical Society, View from Tater Knob in Daniel Boone National Forest - Photo by Steven Dobey. This quickly promotes the development of exploratory behaviors as bears learn to locate food, find escape cover, and navigate through large territories. Visitors to Land Between the Lakes may encounter white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, eastern box turtles, and various bird species. Favorite insect items include grubs and underground yellow jacket nests, which bears often dig up to consume this protein-rich food source. Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; Intel Mac OS X 10_15_7) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/92.0.4515.159 Safari/537.36. Nuisance behaviors learned as a cub will often stay with that bear for life. Biologists believe this is likely the same bear. 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. WebNever approach a bear! Definitely dont approach in anyway, just give them their space and theyll keep doing what they do.. As bear numbers increase, so may the occurrence of black bears in towns or local municipalities. 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. 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. While the life expectancy of male bears is shorter than that of females, bears may live 1525 years in the wild. That's when you would want to get big and get loud and scream and wave your arms in the air," Rich said. When the acorns drop this fall, theyll want to be in a naturally wooded area which is what eastern Kentucky has, Hast said. In Kentucky, the return of black bears over the last 20 years is proving to be a true wildlife success story. HOPKINS COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT) Another bear sighting has been confirmed in western Kentucky, according to State Fish & Wildlife officials. This ability is critical to bear survival as climbing is an important adaptation that enables bears to obtain food, locate suitable denning habitats, and escape from predators. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife confirms bear tracks have been spotted in southern Henderson County. Photo: Debra Gibson Isaac, Since this 10-year-old photo was taken Best in Kentucky Destination Highlight Great Outdoors Kentucky Eats Worth The Trip, Byron Crawford Commonwealths Gadgets & Gizmos Kentucky Kids Smart Health Uniquely Kentucky, Incentives & Rebates Business Spotlight Co-op Community Co-Operations Co-ops Care Cutting Cost Energy Guides KAEC CEO Our Power Safety Moment. around them. 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 the wild animals in the foothill community. This is because males leave the territory in which they are born, while females traditionally share space within the mothers territory. OREGON: Record-breaking Bull Trout Reeled in by Lucky Angler, Louisiana Wild Animals Lookout: Best Places to See Wildlife Down South. Black bears are very curious animals and this should not be confused with aggression. Offspring remain with their mother for the entire year after birth and generally throughout the second denning season. Many wildlife management areas have designated viewing areas, trails, and observation blinds where visitors can safely observe these animals in their natural habitats. Webster County Dispatch told 44News they got their first call about the bear around 11 a.m., about an hour after the first photo of the bear was shared on Facebook. The remainder of their diet typically consists of insects and any animal material discovered while foraging. 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