Wisdom from The Action Wisdom In Action

Bear Watch

Cumberland Times-News

Large bear killed near Friendsville makes 47 dead on state’s roads

On Dec. 24, a 324 pound male black bear was struck and killed on Interstate 68 at mile marker 8 near Friendsville, making it the 47th bruin to die on Maryland highways in 2009, according to an unofficial count kept by the Cumberland Times-News.


Also on Christmas Eve, a bear was reported to have been struck on Aaron Run Road in the Savage River drainage. A Maryland Wildlife and Heritage Service crew was dispatched to the scene and watched as the bear left the area on its own, according to spokesman Harry Spiker.

To report bear incidents in Allegany County, call the Maryland Wildlife Service at (301) 777-2136. In Garrett County, call (301) 334-4255. Outdoor Editor Mike Sawyers may be contacted at (301) 784-2523.




If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

The number of bears that have died on Maryland highways in 2009 jumped to 32 with the demise of four bruins Oct. 9-13, according to Clarissa Harris of the Maryland Wildlife Service. The Cumberland Times-News count is unofficial.

On Oct. 9, a 101-pound female bear died on Interstate 68 in the Friendsville area.

On Oct. 11, two bears were killed, a 148-pound female on I-68 near the Finzel exit in Garrett County and a female of 72 pounds on I-68 near Little Orleans in Allegany County.

Then on Oct. 13, a 338-pound male bear was struck and mangled on state Route 36 at Barton. The bear was eventually put down by Natural Resources Police.

The covers on three operating hot tubs have been ripped open by bears in the Deep Creek Lake area. Harris said she believes the bears become curious about the sound of the motor and the moving water and investigate with their claws.








If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Long & Foster Real Estate for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Another update from Offlake Rentals: As I mentioned the other day, the bears (mother & cub) who ripped apart a bear proof container in Sky Valley came back to finish the job yesterday:

Bear attacks are rare on a global scale, but there have been bear attacks recently in Garrett County, Maryland. This article from the Washington Post, dated September 6, 2007, is sad proof that bear attacks can happen anywhere at any time. This bear apparently tested positive for rabies, and that undoubtedly affected the situation. Normally, bears are peaceful creatures, and they are just like any other animal you encounter in the wild - curious and hungry.

The bottom line is this - if & when you encounter a bear, raccoon, snake, bobcat, or any other wildlife, use common sense and keep your distance.

Interesting read on black bear safety:

"According to Dr. Steve French, who authored the chapter of bear behavior and attacks in the 5th edition of the textbook Wilderness Medicine, here are the rules for avoiding a bear attack in the wilderness:

1. Do not provoke animals. Do not corner or provoke a bear.
2. Never approach an animal when it is with young.
3. Do not disturb a feeding animal. Do not explore into its feeding territory or disrupt mating patterns.
4. In bear country, hang all food off the ground in trees away from the campsite. Never keep food or captured game inside a tent. Use proper food storage to keep food away from bears. Cook at a site away from the sleeping area. Do not sleep in clothes worn while cooking or eating. 5. Make noise when hiking, particularly on narrow paths or through tall grass. If you confront a brown (grizzly) bear, avoid eye contact and try to slowly back away. If you confront a black bear, shout, yell, throw rocks or sticks, or do whatever you can to frighten off the animal.
6. If attacked by a bear, do not try to outrun it - you can’t. Cover your head and the back of your neck with your arms and curl into a fetal position or lay flat on the ground, face down, in order to protect your abdomen. If you are wearing a backpack, keep it on for additional protection. Use your elbows to cover your face if a bear turns you over. After a bear attack, remain on the ground until you are certain that the bear has left the area. More than one victim has successfully protected himself during the initial attack, only to arise too soon (before the bear has lost interest and left the area) and be mauled during the second attack."

My good friend Bob Orr, from Offlake Rentals, sent these photos to me the other day. It appears that these 'bear proof' trash containers aren't so bear-proof anymore. This occurred at a vacation rental in Sky Valley, a wooded community on the southeastern shores of Deep Creek Lake. If you look closely, you can make out the claw marks that are cut into the side of the plastic can. Eye witnesses confirmed that this is a very large bear, and had a cub with her. If I can figure out how to upload the video from their cell phone, they caught the bear shortly after the incident 'doing it's business' near the house.

One tip that Bob passed along to me: leave a rag soaked in ammonia inside or on top of the wooden housing for your trash containers - or, leave said rag in the immediate vicinity of your trash. This seems to keep the bears at bay, and they *should* leave you alone.

It also needs to be said, bears are cute and fun to watch, but they are definitely dangerous. If they can rip apart a wooden box, imagine what they can do to you!

Beitzel Introduces "Share The Bear" Bill Once Again

Feb. 14, 2008

Del. Wendell R. Beitzel (R–Garrett and Allegany counties) introduced HB 762, "Natural Resources – Black Bears – Establishment of Population in Each County," this week in the Maryland General Assembly. The bill, which seeks to establish a bear population in each county in the state, is in response to Del. Barbara Frush's (D–Anne Arundel and Prince George's) filing of HB 657.

Frush's bill seeks to classify the black bear as a non-game mammal and to put a moratorium on bear hunting in Maryland.

A similar bill to Beitzel's HB 762 was originally introduced by then-Del. George C. Edwards in 2005. The Edwards bill was also in response to a bill submitted by Frush to ban bear hunting in Maryland. Edwards is now a senator in the General Assembly.

Beitzel's bill will be heard in front of the House Environmental Matters Committee and has been scheduled for a hearing at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

"Del. Frush and several of her colleagues do not want a bear hunt in Maryland," Beitzel said. "If they are successful in their efforts, then something must be done to control the bear population in western Maryland. My plan does just that.

"Under my legislation, the Department of Natural Resources can distribute the bears throughout the rest of the state so that everyone can experience the 'joys' of living with bears," Beitzel said.

The provisions of the his bill would require the DNR to capture bears that live in over-populated areas of western Maryland, and distribute them throughout the state. The DNR has determined that all counties in Maryland have locations that are suitable for bear habitat, according to Beitzel.

"Many people who aren't from western Maryland think that bears are cute and friendly, but this isn't always the case," said Sen. Edwards. "There are nuisance bears that not only destroy property, but also potentially pose a serious threat to people and pets. We need to make sure that people down here know that it is essential to manage the bear population, whether it's by a hunt or the plan we presented."

According to a report by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 51 bears were taken during the 2007 bear hunt in Maryland. In addition to those bears, more than 40 bears were reported to have been hit by vehicles on the highway statewide.

Until the 2004-2005 hunting season, a ban on hunting black bears had been in effect since 1953. The bear hunt has received national attention and has since been a source of controversy.

During the most recent bear hunt, a black bear weight record was established for Maryland. Coty Jones, a 20-year-old woman from the state's Eastern Shore, harvested a black bear that weighed more than 600 pounds.

"This bill is important to not only the people of Garrett and Allegany counties, but also should be a concern for those who genuinely have an interest in the preservation of the bear population in Maryland," Beitzel said about HB 762.

He encourages anyone wanting more information on this subject to contact him in Annapolis at 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3435.