From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — According to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, St. Clair County has joined Jackson, Limestone, Marshall and Morgan counties in increased black bear sightings this year.
ADCNR believes that there has been an expansion in the black bear population and may be due to “changes in bear distribution, habitat fragmentation, seasonal movement and the summer mating season.” Another factor may include juvenile male bears being pushed out by mothers and other males during the spring and summer, ADCNR said.
Sightings have been reported in recent years in Chambers, Elmore, Jefferson, Lee, Macon and Tallapoosa counties. A conservation expert says that black bears have never attacked humans in Alabama before.
“While seeing a black bear in Alabama is uncommon and exciting, it is no cause for alarm,” said Marianne Hudson, Conservation Outreach Specialist for the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. “There has never been a black bear attack on a human in Alabama.”
However, ADCNR urges safety even as black bears generally tend to stay away from areas populated by humans. Occasionally one may wonder into an area in search of food. According to the ADCNR, the best thing to do is to leave them alone.
Below are tips from ADCNR on what to do in case such an animal is spotted:
• Do not run from the bear.
• Avoid direct eye contact with the bear.
• Encourage the bear to move away by waving your arms and yelling as you slowly back away.
• Make sure the bear has an unobstructed direction to escape.
• In the unlikely event of an attack, fight back. Never “play dead.”
• Never approach or purposely feed a bear.
• Store all food indoors or in a bear-resistant container.
• Do not leave pet food outside overnight.
• Keep trash cans clean and don’t put trash out until the morning of pick up.
• Avoid feeding birds and other wildlife from April to January when bears are most active.
There are no open seasons on black bears, ADCNR says. Shooting at one is a Class A misdemeanor and can result in potentially losing hunting and fishing license privileges for three years and possibly even jail time.
Sightings of black bears can be reported to the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries division, which can be done at www.outdooralabama.com. They can also be reported at https://game.dcnr.alabama.gov/