Rocky Mount, VA — This is the time of year when black bears are on the move in Virginia. Mature bears are looking to breed, younger males are seeking their own territories and, as opportunistic feeders, they are all looking for food. Bear sightings during the summer months are not unusual. Game wardens and wildlife biologists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries handle numerous bear reports. In most cases, the bear moves on after food sources are removed.

A large male bear had been reported to be in Rocky Mount for several days raiding trashcans and birdfeeders. On June 15, 2004, just after 9 p.m. the bear wandered by Carillion Franklin Memorial Hospital and stepped on the sensor that triggered the automatic doors to open. People scattered as he entered the emergency room area and moved down the hallway. A Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries game warden was at the hospital when the incident occurred. Franklin County Sheriffs Office deputies and Rocky Mount police officers responded to the scene. By then a large crowd had gathered outside of the hospital entrance.

When the bear went into a room someone closed the doors behind it. With patients and employees still in the hospital, tranquilizing the 345-pound adult black bear was ruled out because of the risk should it get loose. With so many people in the area, chasing the bear back outside was not an option. The bear was dispatched by officers. As a precaution it will be tested for rabies.

Bears generally avoid humans, but they may wander into suburban areas. In most cases, a black bear would rather flee than have an encounter with people. But bears are wild animals and can be unpredictable. Never feed a bear under any circumstances. When bears lose their fear of people and when they associate people with food, trouble may not be far away. The Board of Game and Inland Fisheries addressed the potential consequences of feeding bears by passing a regulation making it illegal to feed black bears. That regulation went into effect July 1, 2003.

The best way to encourage a bear to move on is to remove the food source that is attracting it. Do this by cleaning up or removing trash, pet food, livestock feed, grills and bird feeders. Do not store household trash in vehicles or on porches or decks. Take your garbage to the dump frequently, and if you have a trash collection service, put your trash out the morning of the pickup, not the night before. Report any problems by calling the Department’s 24-hour Dispatch at 804-367-1258. For more information about black bears and what to do about black bears in your area visit the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Web site at www.dgif.virginia.gov.