Black Bear Tries to Beat Montgomery Traffic

Montgomery County is in the peak season for young bears to strike out on their own, which has led to sightings of black bears on the streets, at a church, and area parks.

Ken D’Loughy of the Maryland Department of National Resources told Montgomery Community Media that residents reported a black bear on Rainbow Arch Drive in Clarksburg Tuesday. The DNR also received reports of a bear sighting at Greenridge Baptist Church. D’Loughy says he believes this is the same black bear spotted earlier in Damascus and Germantown.

On Monday, a black bear was spotted running alongside a fence at Ridge Road Recreational Park.

SEE ALSO: Another Bear Sighting Makes Waves Throughout Montgomery

Just last week, a black bear was spotted on Observation Drive in Germantown. In Damascus, Montgomery County Police say residents have reported numerous sightings of a black bear at and around Oak Ridge Park last month.

The now-famous Poolesville Bear sighting on Old Oaks Estate in Beallsville led to Internet fame in the form of a popular Facebook parody account.

Black bear sightings are most common in Montgomery County 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.

»Photos of black bear at Ridge Road Recreational Park, courtesy of Montgomery County Parks