The city partnered with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to approach the issue with canyon-area residents to let them know if their trash cans are unsecure or if pet food was left out. Unlike Kentucky's sighting, wildlife officials haven't confirmed the southern Indiana report as a bear, because the security footage is more grainy. Litters are produced every other year and cubs generally weigh only 816 ounces at birth. As author Linda Masterson says in Living with Bears: With the black bear population healthy or growing across much of the continent, and people populations on the increase as well, people and black bears are encountering each other more often. Another bear showed up in Jessamine County. As such, bears habituated to humans can pose public safety concerns and often need to be destroyed as relocation is not a responsible management action. 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. Keep in mind, however, that aggressive dogs could suffer injury or death if a physical conflict arises. There, they assess the litter and the health aspects of both mom and cubs, Hast says. Immediately notify the KDFWR of any bear damage to beehives. Officials with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife have confirmed reports a black bear was spotted in Webster County Wednesday. Best in Kentucky Destination Highlight Great Outdoors Kentucky Eats Worth The Trip, Byron Crawford Commonwealths Gadgets & Gizmos Kentucky Kids Smart Health Uniquely Kentucky, Incentives & Rebates Business Spotlight Co-op Community Co-Operations Co-ops Care Cutting Cost Energy Guides KAEC CEO Our Power Safety Moment. Weve got a really healthy bear population in our mountain counties, Hast said. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a highly adaptable and omnivorous mammal that is commonly found in Kentuckys forests, wetlands, and urban areas. While relocation is an option to the immediate issue it will not solve the underlying problem. Feeding bears is absolutely the worst thing that people can do to ensure a bears death. Copperhead snakes are generally shy and prefer to avoid confrontation with humans, but they can be dangerous if provoked. And second, yearling bears are now on their own trying to establish a suitable home range. Richardson said sending out news releases allows the state to properly inform Kentuckians who may regularly see false reports on social media. Vast portions of the Kentucky region that were cleared for timber are once again mature hardwood forests. Kentucky is home to a growing bear population that offers frequent and widespread viewing opportunities in the wild. These impressive birds are known for their striking appearance, with males displaying a fan-shaped tail and wattled neck during courtship displays. Fed bears lose their natural fear of people and become habituated to humans. After females are bred in June, the fertilized eggs remain in a state of arrested development and are not implanted in the uterus until the fall. The black bear (Ursus americanus) is a large and powerful mammal that is native to Kentuckys forests and mountains. Kentuckys state parks, scattered throughout the state, also offer opportunities for wildlife viewing. OREGON: Record-breaking Bull Trout Reeled in by Lucky Angler, Louisiana Wild Animals Lookout: Best Places to See Wildlife Down South. 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. Resources biologist Tristan Curry checks UTICA, Ind. If a bear is reluctant to leave then proceed to throw rocks or other objects at the bear while continuing to yell. Black bears are very curious animals and this should not be confused with aggression. As breeding happens, young males get bounced out and tend to pop up in places across the bluegrass.. Ultimately, relocating bears is not an effective long-term management tool. The threat is possible, however, and simple precautions can eliminate this unnecessary problem. Doing so will not only help us keep bears wild in Kentucky, but it just may save a bears life. It was big news because central Kentuckians are not accustomed to seeing bears in their neighborhoods. Let it go about its business and soon enough it will be gone.. Kentucky Wildlife Diversity: Where to Find Wild Animals? Properly dispose of contents from grease traps after each use. Locate calving grounds away form forest edges, and enclose with electric fencing if possible. There was a problem saving your notification. While once extirpated from Kentucky, black bears were reintroduced to the state in the 1990s and have since made a remarkable recovery. A black bear that was first confirmed last week in Henderson has now made its way south, through Webster County and Caldwell County into rural Hopkins County, following a reported sighting on Wednesday night in the Dunn Church area north of Dawson Springs and another on Thursday morning near Ilsley. In addition, black bears have an incredible homing instinct and can travel amazing distances in relatively short periods of time. Injuries to pets by black bears are not a common occurrence in Kentucky. Ongoing cooperative research with the University of Kentucky has provided a wealth of knowledge concerning travel patterns and movement rates of bears in eastern Kentucky., Black bear track - Photo by Jason Plaxico. Bears were also spotted last summer in Louisville. Eastern gray squirrels are adaptable and can thrive in a variety of habitats, from dense forests to suburban neighborhoods. Although reports of bear and mountain lions commonly occur in the area, most are normally dismissed as hoaxes. Bear population growth rate figures come from extrapolating data from numerous sources, including a research program conducted by the University of Tennessee (UT), Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Forest and Park services and the U.S. Geological Survey. There is no reason that you should ever be within 150 feet of a bear. Hes trying to find a spot for him to live, and its not going to be around here. Black bears are rarely seen in Indiana. It is suspected that growing bear numbers in McCreary County are the likely result of population expansion from the BSF in Tennessee, which was home to an experimental release of 14 female bears from Great Smoky Mountains National Park from 19961997. at Kingdom Come State Park, bear-proof So, they tend to make a loop and end up where they started. To report a bear sighting in your area call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife or 1-800-25-ALERT. Additionally, costs associated with the installation of an electric fence can be minimal when compared to potential losses in money by the destruction of honey and bees. In doing so, they have increased opportunities to encounter human dwellings. Hoosier Democrats, Republicans and insiders talk candidly about issues, the Indiana Statehouse and everything in between on Indiana Week In Review from WFYI Public Media. Sierra Madre police responded to 130 calls about black bears making their way into residential areas in 2022, Capt. In Kentucky, historical accounts indicate that bears were Where hes at or where hes been sighted, [the bear is] far out of his home range, Richardson said. 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. If you want to take photos of bears or wildlife on a regular basis, invest in a telephoto lens so you dont need to be close to get a good shot. We've all heard of the bear sightings in Western Kentucky. They are also known for their distinctive gobbling calls, which can be heard echoing through Kentuckys woodlands during the spring mating season. In Kentucky, females typically enter dens from mid-November to December. Here are six of the most common wild animals found in the Bluegrass State. These nocturnal creatures are known for their masked faces and ringed tails. An online guide called BearWise lists what people can do to minimize the chances of such run-ins. Its a nice drive, Hast says, with exceptional views from north to south. Food-conditioned bears live considerably shorter lives than wild bears. The expansion is everywhere, particularly east of I-75. Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and are known to raid trash cans, gardens, and even pet food bowls in search of food. Leave it alone. Officials in the city of Dixon, Kentucky, are advising the community to be cautious after a bear was spotted in the area. Black bears are extremely powerful animals whose behaviors can be unpredictable. Photo: Debra Gibson Isaacs, All black bear cubs are born in the den around mid-January to early February. Sometimes, the bear pictures and black panther pictures or mountain lion pictures, they get passed around all over the country, Richardson said. Barking Up the Right Tree: Georgia Bulldogs Football Facts and Legends. If you see a bear in your neighborhood, remove birdfeeders for a minimum of 7 days. If you feed animals outside, make sure to not leave any food behind that might entice the bear. If you see a black bear from a distance, alter your route of travel. CALDWELL COUNTY, Ky. (KFVS) - Photos show an apparent bear sighting near Princeton, Kentucky. That's just south of Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River and because bears are strong swimmers officials said it may cross the river into Indiana, the News and Tribune reported. Bears have a bit of built-in physiological magic, according to Hast. They are known for their excellent sense of smell and are often attracted to human food sources, such as garbage cans and bird feeders. Ward is unsure if its the same one seen near Rend Lake, but he did say bears can travel a lot. The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife has confirmed that the bear has been spotted north of Prospect, Kentucky. Stay connected with Kentucky Living between magazine issues! Running from a black bear will likely trigger a natural instinct to chase. Research shows that male bears range over areas from 200500 km2; that is an area of approximately 77193 square miles! They are skilled hunters and feed on a diet of small mammals, insects, and amphibians. UTICA, Ind. The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a familiar and charismatic mammal found throughout Kentuckys woodlands and urban areas. Early May, through June, is peak bear season across Kentucky. 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. If a bear approaches you in the wild, it is likely only trying to assess your presence. 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. Webster County Dispatch told 44News they got their first call about the bear around 11 a.m., about an hour after the first photo of the bear was shared on Facebook. Doing so will not only prevent nuisance problems for you and your neighbors but will ultimately maintain the integrity of our bear population by keeping it wild. Thats as high a growth rate as you will find anywhere in the southeast United States. If you do encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and never approach the bear. Any sightings of this bear should be immediately reported either to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife by calling 1-800-858-1549 during business hours, or to local law enforcement. Eastern Kentucky has seen another bear sighting. When the acorns drop this fall, theyll want to be in a naturally wooded area which is what eastern Kentucky has, Hast said. All rights reserved. WebNever approach a bear! FBI arrests 2 men accused of establishing undercover police station in New York for China, Gov. What to See? He graduated from Hopkinsville High School in 2019. While most bears that wander into western Kentucky come from the eastern Kentucky population, this animal may have come just a little bit further. In a recent news release, state biologists confirmed reports of bear tracks in Princeton last Monday, a bear sighting near Dixon on Wednesday and a sighting in Princeton on Saturday. Use solar chargers as a power source if bee yards are left unattended for extended periods. It is an ideal location to spot a wide range of animals. Animals exhibiting those behaviors are doing so because they have either been fed or have learned to feed on improperly stored garbage or pet food. Help protect Kentuckys bears by being responsible and following our guidelines for living in bear country. 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. Direct or indirect feeding of black bears is illegal in Kentucky!. The older bears want to fight and the female bears arent interested in them, so they go on these walkabouts.. Kentucky, located in the eastern United States, is home to a diverse range of wildlife species that thrive in its forests, wetlands, and grasslands. In the last decade, four "bear-human interactions" in and around the city limits have been reported, according to James Carlson, a city analyst. Bears are extremely curious animals as a likely result of their intensive learning process as offspring. Such dramatic differences in home range area between sexes are due to two things- reproductive condition and season. The activity pattern of black bears is generally crepuscular, meaning active during the early morning and late evening hours. Slowly back away while facing the bear at all times. Many of these young males end up migrating to southern Jessamine and Fayette counties by following along the river. In a recent news release, state biologists confirmed reports of bear tracks in Princeton last Monday, a bear sighting near Dixon on Wednesday and a sighting in Princeton on Saturday. 1 talking about this. The research focused on nearly 9 million acres of the Big South Fork area of Kentucky and Tennessee, and southeastKentucky and northeast Tennessee, according to Josh Alston, the UT graduate student who led the study. These distinctive turtles are known for their hard, dome-shaped shells and colorful patterns. Black bears are very curious animals and this should not be confused with Situated along the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, this is a vast expanse of forests, wetlands, and grasslands that provides a haven for wildlife. On the ground, black bears are equally powerful as they may run at speeds approaching 35 miles per hour for relatively short bursts. The black bear is a powerful animal with They want nothing to do with people, which is great, Hast said. Hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and camping areas provide ample opportunities to spot these animals in their natural habitats. This behavior is the same as giving your pet a food reward for successfully completing a repetitive task. Photo courtesy Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a venomous snake that is common in Kentuckys woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. If a person does encounter a bear in the wild, it's best to back away with hands at the hips and leave the bear an open escape route, Rich said. Interactions between humans and bears have increased over the last four years, with more people reporting bears foraging for food and entering homes, city The Return of the Grizzly: Could Minnesota See These Creatures Once Again? With claws seldom greater than 1.5 inches in length, black bears are actually the most efficient climbers of all the worlds eight bear species. Bears are now being equipped with GPS (global positioning system) radio collars that link with orbiting satellites to remotely collect locations at varying time periods. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources said they also had a bear sighting report last Thursday from someone else in the same area. The breeding season occurs from June to mid-July and males will breed with as many females as possible. State and local officials broke ground Monday on a $3.7 billion Eli Lilly manufacturing facility in Boone County. Kelly 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. There are no grizzly bears in Kentucky. Hunting season: Summer, Fall, Winter Clear growing vegetation away from the lowest as this will ensure a closed circuit and render maximum charge upon contact with the fence. 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