Roving Black Bear Crosses I-70 and I-29; Spotted on UMD Campus

A young black bear looking for a home visited the University of Maryland campus over the weekend and has been spotted elsewhere in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, says a wildlife expert.

The year-old bear has spent the past month in eastern Maryland, also wandering through Howard County, where it hit the driving range and climbed a tree last week at the Timbers at Troy golf course in Elkridge.

On Monday, the bear was seen in the Hyattsville area, and Maryland bear biologist Harry Spiker says the young bear needs to head back to western counties to be safe.

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 in a process called "dispersing" in which they try to find their own territory, natural resources officials say.

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Spiker says 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,” he said.

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 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.

»Pictured, a black bear at the Timbers at Troy golf course in Elkridge. Photo courtesy of Howard County Recreation and Parks.