'Cecil' the Bear Wanders Into Aberdeen Proving Ground

ABERDEEN, MD — A wandering black bear dubbed Cecil has traveled from Delaware into the Aberdeen area, officials said.

While western Maryland counties have bear populations year-round, black bears looking to establish territories usually meander into eastern Maryland in the summer.

The Cecil County Sheriff's Office first spotted Maryland’s new visitor on Friday, and posted a warning to residents that the hunger bear was in the area of Route 213 and Ricketts Mill Road. Homeowners were told to bring their trash inside and keep pets indoors.

A video of the roaming bear, shot from a car, drew criticism because the people in the car were calling the bear.

On Wednesday morning, Cecil was seen on Aberdeen Proving Ground in the area of the Route 22 (Harford) Gate, officials said on the APG Facebook page. APG Police, Department of Natural Resources and other agencies are aware of the bear and urge anyone who sees it not to approach the animal; call 911 immediately.

Bears are typically are not interested in people and Cecil should pass through the area on with little risk to residents unless it is cornered or threatened, APG officials said.

The bear is likely the same one seen in Cecil County and Delaware in recently, experts said.

"We believe this is the same one moved west some," state bear biologist Harry Spiker told The Baltimore Sun. "It's just making a big loop. Who knows where it will end up. It's just looking for a place to call home.”

Black bear sightings are most common in eastern Maryland in June and July when young, solitary bears – frequently young males -- travel considerable distances in search of a suitable home range to call their own, says Montgomery Parks. Most of the young bears settle in western Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.

Tips to avoid bears:

• Never feed bears or other wildlife (intentionally or unintentionally). Feeding black bears can seem fascinating and fun, but 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 over fill 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 barbeque 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.

»Patch file photo of black bear, from Montgomery County Parks; video from Cecil County Sheriff's Office