A bear was spotted in Central KY. Here’s what to do if there’s one in your area
A bear was spotted in Versailles on Friday morning, according to Woodford County Emergency Management.
An alert sent to Woodford County residents around 10:15 a.m. warned of a bear in the area.
“Versailles officials are working with KY Fish & Wildlife to relocate a bear outside city limits away from population,” the alert read. “DO NOT APPROACH THE BEAR.”
Woodford County Emergency Management did not immediately respond to a request for additional information.
Lisa Jackson, a spokesperson for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, said the department was aware of the bear but not planning to trap it.
“Black bears wandering into Central Kentucky and beyond is fairly common, as young male bears can go on an extended walkabout from their normal range in eastern and southeastern Kentucky after they get old enough to be pushed out by mom and start exploring the world. By fall, they generally return home for mating season,” Jackson said.
Never feed or approach a bear
Young black bears are generally not aggressive, Jackson said. The department recommended that residents in the area remove anything that might attract the bear to their yard, including keeping grills clean and removing all outside food sources. Garbage should be kept in a locked container or storage area.
Caution should be taken with children or pets while the bear is in the area, she said, and people should never feed or approach the bear. More information about what to do if a bear is in your area is available on BearWise.org.
This story was originally published June 27, 2025 at 12:20 PM.