black bear sightings in kentuckyblack bear sightings in kentucky

Sierra Madre plans to release bear-proof trash cans to help deter hungry bears, but not just in high-frequency areas of the city. Visitors to Land Between the Lakes may encounter white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, raccoons, eastern box turtles, and various bird species. Mother bear and cubs - Photo by Dave Maehr. This is why fall food abundance prior to denning, primarily in the form of acorns, is critical for black bears in the Southern Appalachians. FBI arrests 2 men accused of establishing undercover police station in New York for China, Gov. Consequently, bears that filtered into Kentucky from our Southern Appalachian neighbors had access to large, remote tracts of quality forest habitat. If cornered or threatened, bears may slap the ground, pop their jaws or huff as a warning. WYMT received videos Wednesday from David and Sharon Kennedy of a bear approaching and climbing onto their porch in Cumberland. In Kentucky, females typically enter dens from mid-November to December. While pregnancy lasts approximately 220 days, embryonic development does not continue throughout the gestation period. Damage to apiaries can be extensive and very costly if action is not taken quickly. Consequently, cubs are born in late January while still in the den and weigh only ounces at birth. However, he adds Kentucky Fish and Wildlife advises the public to never approach or feed a bear, which can result in a negative encounter. Another bear showed up in Jessamine County. 2. She was hesitant to walk in the snow at first, but we had April weather in March,and the snow melted a lot. In addition, black bears have an incredible homing instinct and can travel amazing distances in relatively short periods of time. While variant color phases may exist, bears are typically black with a brown muzzle and may exhibit a white patch on their chest. Unfortunately, bears that become conditioned to human foods often develop a second and even more negative behavioral condition as a result of spending so much time around humans. 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. Slowly back away while facing the bear at all times. April 14, 2023 4:25 PM. According to Kelly, there are expanding bear populations in both eastern Kentucky as well as the Ozarks region of Missouri. Photos of the bear in Caldwell County, Kentucky were taken Black bears are known for their stocky bodies, shaggy coats, and iconic crescent-shaped ears. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a highly adaptable and omnivorous mammal that is commonly found in Kentuckys forests, wetlands, and urban areas. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. David Oppenheimer was relaxing in a chair outside his home when he turned to see something startling. 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. He said, in his opinion, the bear could be from Illinois. WebNever approach a bear! They are often seen grazing in open areas or darting through the trees with their graceful leaps. 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 latest spotting happened on Wednesday in 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. This is actually for the benefit forher young, as adult males will often kill smaller bears during the breeding season. In case of a bear encounter, Richardson recommends walking away slowly and going indoors if possible. Why are teen girls in crisis? CALDWELL COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) - Photos show an apparent bear sighting near Princeton, Kentucky. Kentucky offers a wealth of opportunities for wildlife viewing. Weights among bears are extremely variable, however, and are determined by food availability and the time of year. 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. 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. Surround bee yards with at least 2 strands of electric fencing, with the lowest wire no more than 15 inches from the ground. The activity pattern of black bears is generally crepuscular, meaning active during the early morning and late evening hours. Bears are incredible diggers- irregularities in terrain should be filled in with heavy debris so as to prevent bears from crawling under low points. 1 talking about this. These nocturnal creatures are known for their masked faces and ringed tails. Habituated bears are often killed by poachers or struck by vehicles because they frequent residential areas. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources website. If a bear approaches you in the wild, it is likely only trying to assess your presence. If the number of bears in a habitat is about at the level the habitat cansupport, female bears (sows) start having more male cubs. Inside the den of a radio collared female black bear. Watch a video of Hast discussing a bear sighting in Jessamine County. Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife have confirmed reports a black bear was spotted in Webster County Wednesday. WHITLEY COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - A black bear was recently spotted in a Whitley County neighborhood. In Kentucky, the direct or indirect feeding of black bears is a crime that is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to a year in jail and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges for up to 3 years. City officials intend to vote on a proclamation this month that would urge the state to update or enhance its policies for a sustainable managed bear population. 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. An online guide called BearWise lists what people can do to minimize the chances of such run-ins. This second trait is referred to as habituation to humans, and it is simply a loss of their natural fear of people. (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. Photos of the bear in Caldwell County, Kentucky were taken over the weekend. In their travels, young bears may also be lured by the smell of human-related foods. He adds these are the first reports of a bear in the area this summer. Following these simple guidelines will minimize any unnecessary and potentially dangerous encounters. The breeding season occurs from June to mid-July and males will breed with as many females as possible. Conservation officers and biologists advise the public to never approach or feed a bear. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources personnel have been looking at bear numbers since the early 2000s, according to Hast. Portray yourself as the dominant animal and do not back down. For more information, visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources website. Wildlife viewing should be accompanied by respecting the animals and their habitats and keeping a safe distance. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says residents of an area where a bear has been spotted should secure their garbage in a garage or other building, not leave pet food or bird feed outside and clean and store barbecue grills. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. This behavior is the same as giving your pet a food reward for successfully completing a repetitive task. In addition to contributing to the likely death of that bear, you are also breaking the law. This quickly promotes the development of exploratory behaviors as bears learn to locate food, find escape cover, and navigate through large territories. Bears are powerful animals and they may damage property in their pursuit of human-related foods. In the fall, a diet of hard mast composed of acorns and beechnutsallows thebears to put on extraordinary fat reserves that enable not only survivalbut cub production, during the denning season. Black bears are very curious animals and this should not be confused with aggression. During that time, their metabolism slows so that all reserve energy is used for basic life functions and milk production for cubs. These attractants typically include garbage, pet food, and birdfeeders. Black bear family in trash - Photo by Dave Huff. Sometimes older males den for relatively short periods and may travel a bit before denning in another location. Unlike Kentucky's sighting, wildlife officials haven't confirmed the southern Indiana report as a bear, because the security footage is more grainy. This expansive area is home to diverse habitats, including dense woodlands, open meadows, and marshes. Kentuckys state parks, scattered throughout the state, also offer opportunities for wildlife viewing. 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. Small amounts of the toxic chemicals benzene, naphthalene, and butadiene have been found around the perimeter of the site. Careful maintenance of barbeque grills is an overlooked precaution that will prevent unwanted visits by bears and other wildlife. This includes white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrels, wild turkeys, raccoons, and even the occasional black bear. You can find more information They are skilled hunters and feed on a diet of small mammals, insects, and amphibians. 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. Diet of small mammals, insects, and amphibians if a bear in the wild, it is likely trying. Reserve energy is used for basic life functions and milk production for cubs have confirmed a! Not be confused with aggression County, Ky. ( KFVS ) - a bear... 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