at Kingdom Come State Park, bear-proof Data collected by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) clearly illustrate that most conflicts result from intentional feeding, or access to other human-related sources such as garbage, pet food, livestock feed, and birdfeeders. Small amounts of the toxic chemicals benzene, naphthalene, and butadiene have been found around the perimeter of the site. Why are teen girls in crisis? The home range of black bears in Kentucky can exceed 80 square miles. In years of poor acorn production, however, females may not be able to store adequate fat reserves and reproduction can be significantly decreased. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources officials say they have received several reports of bear sightings in western Kentucky over the past week. They are known for their excellent sense of smell and are often attracted to human food sources, such as garbage cans and bird feeders. HOPKINS COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT) Another bear sighting has been confirmed in western Kentucky, according to State Fish & Wildlife officials. Although reports of bear and mountain lions commonly occur in the area, most are normally dismissed as hoaxes. If a bear has continued access to garbage in a neighborhood, for instance, it may become increasingly dependent on that food source. April 14, 2023 4:25 PM. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife confirms bear tracks have been spotted in southern Henderson County. Illinois Wild Animals Spotting: Where to Go? The parks diverse landscapes with forests, prairies, and rivers, are home to a variety of animals. No! During the spring and summer months, bears in the Southern Appalachians feed primarily on grasses and fruit, suchas blackberries, blueberries, and huckleberries. While pregnancy lasts approximately 220 days, embryonic development does not continue throughout the gestation period. Black bears den for the winter months and typically emerge in late March or early April. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Kentucky is home to a growing bear population that offers frequent and widespread viewing opportunities in the wild. 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. Black bears are more common to be spotted in eastern Kentucky. The department said these sightingsfollow other recent reports in the region. They are excellent climbers and are often seen scaling trees or exploring for food along riverbanks. Bears are very curious animals, however, and this should not be mistaken for aggression. Bears will move on after realizing there is no food to be obtained. All rights reserved. In addition, bears are extremely powerful animals that run at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour in short distances. 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. It is not uncommon, for example, for a bear to almost double its summer weight after spending the fall months feeding on acorns. Valid hunting license and appropriate valid bear permits depending on season. Make your presence known by yelling at the bear and slowly back away without turning your back. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. Properly dispose of contents from grease traps after each use. At that point the safety of other people becomes a concern because they may have absolutely no interest in having a bear in their yard. You do not want to make the bear feel threatened. A nearby man took care of her for months but did not have the permits to keep her. 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 addition, home range area varies considerably between seasons due to significant shifts in food availability. 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. To learn more about advertising with Kentucky Living, contact us. Clear growing vegetation away from the lowest as this will ensure a closed circuit and render maximum charge upon contact with the fence. Female home range area is further limited as they often have cubs or yearling bears in tow. Number one, that is the breeding season for bears and males are traveling great distances in search of females. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Use solar chargers as a power source if bee yards are left unattended for extended periods. 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. Visitors may spot deer, squirrels, turkeys, raccoons, and black bears. Black bears prefer to avoid humans, and removing potential food sources goes a long way to prevent negative interactions.. Black bears are normally very elusive and shy animals and unless they have become accustomed to human food sources, they tend to avoid people. Yearlings can weigh anywhere from 20100 pounds, depending upon food availability, as they strike out to establish their own new territory. Black bear in the trash - Photo by Dave Huff. Another bear showed The DNR urges citizens not to feed bears and to take other steps to avoid encounters with the animals. When the acorns drop this fall, theyll want to be in a naturally wooded area which is what eastern Kentucky has, Hast said. There was a problem saving your notification. Feeding bears is absolutely the worst thing that people can do to ensure a bears death. cans have been installed. Kentucky Estimated population size: 500 to 1,000 Hunting permitted: Yes. To report a bear sighting in your area call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife or 1-800-25-ALERT. He said if you have domestic animals like cats or dogs, keep them inside. When they emerge from dens, natural foods are scarce and often bears are lured by the smell of human-related foods. However, these feeders supply an easy food source and provide an easy meal for bears. As oak forests matured after extensive logging efforts in the early 1900s, bears recolonized these habitats from our neighboring states of West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. Bears are incredible diggers- irregularities in terrain should be filled in with heavy debris so as to prevent bears from crawling under low points. Generally, those behaviors include some form of attractants such as garbage, food scraps, pet food, birdfeeders, livestock feed, or other human-related items. Rather, bears enter a sleep-like state referred to as winter torpor in which they are fully capable of moving and even exiting the den. 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. 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. On Wednesday, a bear was observed near Dixon, Kentucky in Webster County. Currently, black bears are the most abundant and widespread of all eight bear species in the world. Kansas Angler Reels in Record-Breaking Crappie, Shattering 59-Year-Old Record, How to Care for Native Bee Houses: Buzzing With Success, Kansas Wild Animals Tour: Exploring the States Wildlife. The Return of the Grizzly: Could Minnesota See These Creatures Once Again? Females with offspring remain together throughout the second winter, and they again den as a family unit. Fed bears lose their natural fear of people and become habituated to humans. This behavior is the same as giving your pet a food reward for successfully completing a repetitive task. This is why fall food abundance prior to denning, primarily in the form of acorns, is critical for black bears in the Southern Appalachians. According to Kelly, there are expanding bear populations in both eastern Kentucky as well as the Ozarks region of Missouri. In 2015, a black bear entered the state from Michigan, becoming the first black bear confirmed in Indiana since the 1870s, DNR said. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. You have permission to edit this article. Habituated bears are often killed by poachers or struck by vehicles because they frequent residential areas. Biologists believe this is likely the same bear. The bears appear emboldened and have caused property damage and eaten livestock. 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. Store pet food inside or in a solid, enclosed structure. Black bear family in trash - Photo by Dave Huff. When camping in bear country, keep all food stored in a vehicle or away from tents. The other bears came out of hibernation later than Tasha., Mothers with cubs normally come out later than female bears without cubs. Bears are powerful animals and they may damage property in their pursuit of human-related foods. Black Bear sighting reported in Caldwell county, continues to travel through west Kentucky, Your April 5, 2023, west Kentucky storm photos, Photos of storm damage in Glen Allen, Missouri, from Bollinger County resident Joshua Wells, KSP says investigators have identified suspects in recent Graves County burglary, Mississippi man arrested after Illinois sheriff's deputies find nearly 83 pounds of marijuana during traffic stop, Walmart's US chief merchandising officer stepping down as retailer warns of tough year, Jamie Foxx remains hospitalized nearly a week after experiencing 'medical complication', Kentucky families invited to apply for Spring Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is now so huge and permanent that a coastal ecosystem is thriving on it, scientists say, Screening committee continues to look for right fit for next McCracken County School superintendent, All 4 young victims killed at an Alabama sweet 16 party are identified as investigators work to find the assailant, White homeowner accused of shooting Black teen in Kansas City who went to the wrong house will face 2 felony charges, officials say, GOP states targeting diversity, equity efforts in higher ed. 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. Feed outside pets only enough food for one meal at a time. Immediately report any instances of people feeding bears to the KDFWR by calling 1-800-25ALERT (1-800-252-5378). The activity pattern of black bears is generally crepuscular, meaning active during the early morning and late evening hours. This way, garbage does not sit out overnight and lure bears into your area. Where hes at or where hes been sighted, [the bear is] far out of his home range, Richardson said. Getting too close to a bear Most Loved Cars in Georgia: Exploring the Top Choices for Georgian Drivers, Love is Blind: The Tragic Crash that Delayed the Reunion, The Boston Marathon: One of the Worlds Most Prestigious Races on Patriots Day. 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. https://www.kfvs12.com/2021/07/21/bear-spotted-henderson-webster-counties Thats why Hast and bear biologists in 20 Southeastern states have created Bearwise.org. 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. For the last few months, several individuals in various areas of Perry County, including within Hazard city limits, have experienced black bear sightings. I'm sorry, you need to leave!'". Food-conditioned bears live considerably shorter lives than wild bears. This is especially true for chicken coops that may be easily entered by a bear. Celebrating the energy of your community. Black bears are solitary animals with the exception of individual family units or breeding pairs during the June-July breeding season. Sierra Madre plans to release bear-proof trash cans to help deter hungry bears, but not just in high-frequency areas of the city. David Oppenheimer was relaxing in a chair outside his home when he turned to see something startling. Kentuckys wildlife management areas are managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. These bears get pushed out of the Barking Up the Right Tree: Georgia Bulldogs Football Facts and Legends. It is an ideal location to spot a wide range of animals. According to CAMC, the sighting happened near Chesterfield Avenue in the area of the CAMC LabWorks, Gastroenterology, and new Center for Learning and Research. Black Bear Logging - Photo by OREGON: Record-breaking Bull Trout Reeled in by Lucky Angler, Louisiana Wild Animals Lookout: Best Places to See Wildlife Down South. An online guide called BearWise lists what people can do to minimize the chances of such run-ins. Each winter, department biologists collect important research information and monitor the bear population in southeast Kentucky, using radio collars to track female bears to their dens. Copyright 2020 WKYT. The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a familiar and charismatic mammal found throughout Kentuckys woodlands and urban areas. Along with the opportunity to see one of these iconic animals comes the responsibility to be bear wise. In those instances, bears may have to be trapped, relocated, or even killed. Eastern gray squirrels are adaptable and can thrive in a variety of habitats, from dense forests to suburban neighborhoods. Bears have an incredible sense of smell and are likely being lured by some type of food attractant. Many of these young males end up migrating to southern Jessamine and Fayette counties by following along the river. The same applies to a bear that enters a home. Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife have confirmed reports a black bear was spotted in Webster County Wednesday. Eastern Kentucky has seen another bear sighting. JESSAMINE CO., Ky. (WKYT) - Bear activity is on the rise across central Kentucky. Long-term monitoring and ongoing research has identified the core population as concentrated along the Pine, Cumberland, and Black Mountain areas within in Harlan, Letcher, and Pike counties. But these wild animals might be more hungry than the average houseguest. (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. Mackenzie Rich, a human wildlife conflict specialist with the fish and wildlife department, said a bear's nose is 100 times more sensitive than a human's nose, and bears can sniff out a bag of fast food in a locked car or cooked food in a kitchen. 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