Shegreets visitorsdaily, and theycan see her up close. Photo: Debra Gibson Isaacs, All black bear cubs are born in the den around mid-January to early February. Chief Communications Officer Kevin Kelly tells the News Edge the bear was sighted near Dixon after biologists confirmed bear tracks in southern Henderson County earlier this week. 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). Notify the KDFWR immediately if you witness aggressive behavior by black bears! Their current range also includes the entire eastern region of the Commonwealth along the Southern Appalachian Mountains bordering Virginia and West Virginia. Leave it alone. In fact, almost all pet injuries are the result of bears attempting to obtain pet food, rather than attempt to intentionally harm the pet itself. Slowly back away while facing the bear at all times. Ive had bears eat my chickens, Mayor Edward Garcia said during the council meeting. Make sure the bear has a clear escape route. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife confirms bear tracks have been spotted in southern Henderson County. 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. While bears may appear very calm and non-threatening, they should be treated with respect as they are wild animals whose behaviors can be unpredictable. 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. (AP) A black bear that's been spotted in northern Kentucky may venture into Indiana by taking a swim across the Ohio River, state wildlife officials say. Keep your distance. The most successful measures to alleviate human-bear conflicts must, therefore, be proactive and be put into effect before a problem develops. This sighting provides an opportunity for Hoosiers in the area to secure outdoor grills, trashcans, or pet and bird food," he said. Bear activity is on the rise across central Kentucky. Bears have an incredible sense of smell and are likely being lured by some type of food attractant. During that time, their metabolism slows so that all reserve energy is used for basic life functions and milk production for cubs. Photo: Debra Gibson Isaacs, Although they are large and most often black, American black bears are easily hidden in tall grass or up in trees. By following these simple guidelines for managing attractants you can prevent unnecessary damage. 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. These graceful creatures are known for their distinctive white tail and reddish-brown coat. Today, they are considered a threatened species in Kentucky and are protected by state regulations. Celebrating the energy of your community. Black bears are extremely powerful animals whose behaviors can be unpredictable. Immediately report to the KDFWR any sightings of bears within areas of human population centers. Contrary to some beliefs, however, todays growing population is not the result of a restocking effort. Injuries to pets by black bears are not a common occurrence in Kentucky. The research focused on nearly 9 million acres of the Big South Fork area of Kentucky and Tennessee, and southeastKentucky and northeast Tennessee, according to Josh Alston, the UT graduate student who led the study. While black bears are often referred to as hibernating during the denning period, this is actually not the case. Bears were also spotted last summer in Louisville. There was a problem saving your notification. fight or actually fight with another bear. Help prevent safety concerns by following these guidelines. Thats as high a growth rate as you will find anywhere in the southeast United States. 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. As is the case with pets, injury or death to livestock is an uncommon occurrence in Kentucky. The activity pattern of black bears is generally crepuscular, meaning active during the early morning and late evening hours. CALDWELL COUNTY, KYKentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife conservation officers and biologistsreceived reports Saturday afternoon about bear sightings in Princeton, Kentucky. WebOnce abundant throughout the United States, the historic range of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) was significantly reduced by habitat loss and fragmentation. With a population of over a million, white-tailed deer are a common sight for both residents and visitors to the state. Such dramatic differences in home range area between sexes are due to two things- reproductive condition and season. Odors from cooking can travel long distances, so never leave grills unattended if you live in bear country. You can find more information on bears here. Nuisance behaviors learned as a cub will often stay with that bear for life. CALDWELL COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) - Photos show an apparent bear sighting near Princeton, Kentucky. These attractants typically include garbage, pet food, and birdfeeders. Photo: Debra Gibson Isaac, Since this 10-year-old photo was taken Copyright 2021 KFVS. He says the black bear tracks are likely the same bear spotted in Webster County. While the core population is concentrated along the Pine, Cumberland, and Black Mountain areas, bears may now be found throughout the eastern portions of the Commonwealth. To report a bear sighting in your area call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife or 1-800-25-ALERT. These bears often cause property damage as a result of being taught to feed in neighborhoods. Kentucky Wildlife Diversity: Where to Find Wild Animals? Rogers said Tasha has adjusted well to her life at theCenter. Iowa Wild Animals: What are They and Where to See Them? Kentucky Black Bear Sightings. Sierra Madre plans to release bear-proof trash cans to help deter hungry bears, but not just in high-frequency areas of the city. Photo courtesy Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. There are no grizzly bears in Kentucky. In 2015, a black bear entered the state from Michigan, becoming the first black bear confirmed in Indiana since the 1870s, DNR said. Collectively, female bears den before males, and pregnant females or those with offspring den before solitary females. One oftheearliest bears seen herethis yearwas a mother with yearlings(one-year-olds)andan adult male.. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources personnel have been looking at bear numbers since the early 2000s, according to Hast. 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. Bears are extremely intelligent and quickly learn to associate people with food. In fact, bears possess a unique reproductive adaptation called delayed implantation that allows births to occur when females are generally in prime physical condition. In Kentucky, adult females usually weigh between 120170 pounds, while adult males average 250350 pounds. Store pet food inside or in a solid, enclosed structure. It is not unusual in the early summer for young male bears to wander outside of the established bear range in Eastern Kentucky. Hast thinks thats exactly what happened to this guy, spotted in Jessamine County over the weekend: This looks like about a 2-year-old bear, Hast said. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said they also had a bear sighting report last Thursday from someone else in the same area. Kentucky, located in the eastern United States, is home to a diverse range of wildlife species that thrive in its forests, wetlands, and grasslands. 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. You have permission to edit this article. They are known for their playful behavior and are a popular sight at bird feeders in many Kentucky homes. Hoosier Democrats, Republicans and insiders talk candidly about issues, the Indiana Statehouse and everything in between on Indiana Week In Review from WFYI Public Media. A young male American black bear took a stroll through the University of Kentucky last year and continued his trip into downtown Lexington. Clear overhanging branches from bee yards to prevent bears from climbing into fenced areas. With claws seldom greater than 1.5 inches in length, black bears are actually the most efficient climbers of all the worlds eight bear species. To report a bear sighting in your area call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife or 1-800-25-ALERT. Hell eventually make his way back to the mountains.. On Wednesday, a bear was observed near Dixon, Kentucky in Webster County. 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. No visual sightings were reported from 19951997. WebTo 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. Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife have confirmed reports a black bear was spotted in Webster County Wednesday. While there have been other studies, Alston says this was the first to encompass what biologists believe to be the entire range of this population of bears. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife maintains an extensive amount of information about black bears on its website. Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Bears may wander for several weeks or more in pursuit of a good habitat and prospective mates before returning to the mountains. These areas are carefully managed to provide habitats for various wildlife species like white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, and other mammals. Bears are extremely curious animals as a likely result of their intensive learning process as offspring. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources website. Yearlings can weigh anywhere from 20100 pounds, depending upon food availability, as they strike out to establish their own new territory. 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. A young male American black bear took a stroll through the University of Kentucky last year and continued his trip into downtown Lexington. The black bear is a powerful animal with Even so, there have been a handful of bear attacks in recent years. Bears were also spotted last summer in Louisville. The parks ranger-led programs and hiking trails provide opportunities to learn about the parks wildlife and observe these animals in their natural habitats. "The intent is to show the state that the policies in place are not working for Sierra Madre," City Manager Jose Reynoso said. Sierra Madre police responded to 130 calls about black bears making their way into residential areas in 2022, Capt. Locate calving grounds away form forest edges, and enclose with electric fencing if possible. Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and are known to raid trash cans, gardens, and even pet food bowls in search of food. Beshear announces replacement SNAP benefits for Kentuckians impacted by March 3 storms, Family seeks justice for teen shot in head while trying to pick up siblings at wrong address, Felon who threatened driver, bar patrons in Butler Co. with gun sentenced to 5.5 years in prison, Cape Girardeau man accused of pointing gun at several people during argument, Man arrested in connection with Texaco, Ill. stabbing, Cape Girardeau City Council votes to expand urban deer hunt, Mississippi man arrested after Marion, Ill. police find more than 80lbs. Favorite insect items include grubs and underground yellow jacket nests, which bears often dig up to consume this protein-rich food source. The older bears want to fight and the female bears arent interested in them, so they go on these walkabouts.. Do not leave trash in the back of pick-up trucks as commonly results in damage to the vehicle. 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. Shout and throw sticks or rocks in the vicinity of a bear to encourage flight once an escape route has been established. 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 Reach millions of readers across the Commonwealth by sharing your business or product with people who care about the same things you do. See if you can answer this science question: Would an American Black Bear born in Kentucky hibernate according to the climate she was born into or adjust her hibernation to the weather conditions she is living in. Of course, sheis fednatural foods such as nuts and berriesand peanut butteras well. Since 1998, the KDFWR has received sighting and nuisance reports from 54 Kentucky counties. While the life expectancy of male bears is shorter than that of females, bears may live 1525 years in the wild. 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. Ultimately, relocating bears is not an effective long-term management tool. Bears are very curious animals, however, and this should not be mistaken for aggression. Consequently, habituated bears live shorter lives than wild bears as they tend to die by vehicle collision or poaching by spending so much time around human dwellings. 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