Black Bear Dines out at FDA Campus

Silver Spring, MD — Maryland’s wandering bear has spent the last two days in Montgomery County, lunching leisurely on grubs at the FDA campus before moving on, officials said.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has warned residents that a 1-year-old black bear has been spotted in suburban areas in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

The bear was spotted about 10 a.m. Thursday at Route 29 and Industrial Parkway in Silver Spring, Maryland bear biologist Harry Spiker told Montgomery Community Media

On Wednesday, the bear was reported to be eating lunch on the FDA campus in White Oak. “He was flipping rocks looking for grubs underneath,” said Spiker, who said that is good news because the bear is sticking to his natural habitat and not feeding on birdseed or trash.

• Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook.

Spiker believes all the sightings are of the same bear, who was also seen in recent weeks on the University of Maryland campus.

The bear appears to be headed north. “If he’d just swing more west, I’d be happy,” said Spiker.

SEE ALSO:

• Roving Black Bear Crosses I-70 and I-29; Spotted on UMD Campus
• Black Bear Scales Tree at Elkridge Golf Course

Bear Sightings Good News: Official

Juvenile black bears have been seen in Baltimore and Howard counties as well as they seek out a new territory.

“The department has monitored black bears traversing suburban Maryland every year for more than a decade,” Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto said. “This is completely normal behavior and indicative of a growing and thriving species in the state.”

“Bears generally travel through these areas each spring and summer before quickly returning to more suitable habitats,” Peditto said. “Most of these bears are young animals looking to find territory to call their own. They will quickly move on to more rural communities.”

Typically, Maryland's bear population is concentrated in the western part of the state — Washington, Allegany, Frederick and Garrett counties — and most bears stay within a 10- to 25-mile radius of where they live. However, baby bears may roam up to 200 miles as they try to find their own territory, natural resources officials say.

Spiker said the roving bear has even stopped traffic on Interstate 70 and Route 29.

“It seems to have learned to navigate the highway well,” Spiker told Montgomery Community Media. “It needs to turn west and head that direction.”

Spiker said black bears can be active day or night. They rest for a while and move on looking for food.

If you encounter a bear, you should treat it like a stray dog. “Give it plenty of space, don’t corner it,” Spiker said.

Black bear sightings in the state are most common in eastern Maryland in June and July.

After dispersing, young bears usually settle in places with established bear populations in western Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service.

People are advised not to feed bears, and if they see them, to give the animals their space and leave them alone. Bears typically shy away from human contact.

Tips to live harmoniously with bears:

• Never feed bears or other wildlife (intentionally or unintentionally). Feeding black bears can seem fascinating and fun, but it is a recipe for disaster. Feeding bears is illegal in the state of Maryland.
• Don’t leave bowls of pet food or water outside. If possible, keep all pet food indoors at all times.
• Keep garbage in sturdy, clean containers with tight-fitting lids. (Bear-proof cans are recommended in areas where bear interactions become common.) Secure all trash cans and clean them regularly to minimize strong food odors as much as possible.
• Keep compost that contains food materials in enclosed bins away from your residence.
• Keep bird feeders out of reach. Do not overfill bird feeders, and stop filling them prior to the month of April (It has been said that “In April, a bird feeder becomes a bear feeder”).
• Keep barbecue grills clean and secure.
• Always walk your dogs on a leash.
• Do not tolerate bears becoming comfortable around your yard – encourage them to leave by making loud noises, etc.

»Pictured, a black bear near Hillandale Park in Silver Spring, photo courtesy of Montgomery County Parks; and black bear pictured by Maryland Department of Natural Resources