Be Bear Aware – It’s the Season for Bear Sightings

Virginia is black bear country – including Fairfax County.

But while bears are not commonly encountered in our community, multiple bear sightings are reported each spring and summer as bears wander into residential areas in search of food.

Black bears and cubs emerge from their winter dens from March through May in Virginia. Bears typically avoid humans but may be drawn into populated areas due to the smell of food around homes. Bears are attracted by bird feeders, garbage, outdoor pet food, compost piles, fruit trees, beehives and berry-producing shrubs.

Preventing problems with bears is a shared responsibility. Bears attracted to residential areas or human dwellings due to feeding activities by people, whether deliberate or inadvertent, can cause problems including the habituation of bears to people and serious property damage. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and our county wildlife management specialist recommend these actions to reduce your chances of encountering a black bear in your neighborhood:

1. Secure your garbage in bear-resistant trash cans or store it in a secure building.
2. If you have trash collection service, put your trash out the morning of the pickup, not the night before.
3. Do not store household trash, or anything that smells like food, in vehicles, on porches or decks.
4. Remove bird feeders if a bear is in the area and keep them down for 3-4 weeks. Birdfeeders are a common lure for bears in Fairfax County.
5. Keep your grill clean. Do not dump drippings in your yard.
6. Don’t put meat scraps in your compost pile.
7. Keep pet food indoors.
8. Work with your neighbors to follow the same recommendations.

Black bears have a natural fear of humans and prefer to avoid people. In almost all cases, a black bear will detect you and leave the area before being noticed. However, if you do encounter a bear, here are suggestions:

• Respect the bear’s space. If you see a bear, enjoy watching from a distance.
• Give the bear a clear escape route (do not corner it).
• Never run from a bear. Running could prompt the bear to chase. If in a group, stay together and make sure any dogs stay leashed.
• If a bear is up a tree on or near your property, give it space. Do not approach; take your pets inside to provide the bear a clear path to leave your property.
• If the bear hasn’t seen you, calmly leave the area, while making a bit of noise so the bear will not be surprised by you.
• If the bear has seen you, back away slowly while facing the bear.
• If a bear huffs, clacks its teeth, moans, growls or stomps the ground, it is showing you it is uncomfortable and warning you that you are too close.
• Never feed a bear under any circumstances. In Virginia, it is illegal to feed bears on both public and private lands.

Report Bear Conflicts

Conflicts with bears should be reported to the Virginia Department Wildlife Resources through the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 855-571-9003, TTY 711. The DWR is the responsible agency for determining the appropriate actions to resolve human-bear conflicts. Unless the animal poses a direct threat to public safety, the Fairfax County Police Department and Fairfax County Department of Animal Services do not remove bears from neighborhoods. 

Additional Information

• Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Bear Resources
• BearWise.Org