Was that ... a bear you just saw? Why Kentucky’s population is on the move this summer
Bears are a hot topic this summer, from the viral TikTok debate asking women if they’d rather be alone with a man or the woodland creature, to reports of bear sightings in Lexington and throughout Kentucky.
All the talk about bears could raise several questions: How many bears are there in Kentucky? What should you do if a bear finds its way to your neighborhood?
We spoke with a Kentucky wildlife official about the commonwealth’s bear population, current hunting activities and how to safely avoid interactions with the creatures as they go about their summer travels. Here’s what to know.
How large is Kentucky’s bear population?
John Hast, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife bear and elk program coordinator, said around 1,000 to 1,5000 total black bears reside in the state.
While other species have been intentionally repopulated by the state over the years, Hast said that isn’t the case for bears. He said in 2006, the state agency was only aware of three reproducing bears in Kentucky, and since then, bears have repopulated on their own.
“The entire southeastern United States is seeing, for lack of a better way to put it, a population boom of bears,” Hast told the Herald-Leader.
The largest concentration of bears in the commonwealth is found in the counties bordering West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee.
“We’ve got a population that’s robust enough that we can allow people to hunt them,” he noted.
This is also true of Kentucky’s elk population. Once hunted to near extinction, the commonwealth’s elk population sits at more then 10,000 thanks to repopulation efforts.
What does Kentucky bear hunting entail?
There are several different ways to hunt bears in Kentucky legally. Archery and crossbow hunting is generally permitted for five days in October, and hunting with dogs is also generally permitted for 14 days ranging through October and November.
Meanwhile, hunting with firearms is generally permitted for five days in December.
“We have spent a lot of time over the years to put in the research,” Hast said. “We need to know that the way we’re hunting these things will guarantee we’ve got bears well into the future, forever.”
There are bear hunting guidelines in place in the state relating to licensing, weight limits, mothers with their young and more. For Kentucky residents, bear permits cost $30.
Why do bears travel into urban areas?
Since summer is bear mating season, they can accidentally end up on farms, in residential areas or even inside town or city limits while traveling.
Bears can wander for several weeks or more in search of new habitat and possible mates before returning to mountain areas. They can travel at least 20 miles daily if undisturbed, according to a June 3 Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife press release.
“These bears typically lay low during daylight hours and move to exit the city at night,” Hast said in the press release. Allowing the bear to wander out of town is generally the safest approach for the bear and the residents.”
Hast said it is “very seldom” the agency receives notice of a dangerous bear issue. He said most reports are due to bears knocking over residential trash cans.
How can I help prevent bears from coming to my home?
Hast said things like leaving trash cans out on the street the night before trash day, dog food stored outside and bird feeders can draw bears to your home.
“It’s kind of this idea of limiting the bear’s ability to get any kind of meal, and if you can do that, you just generally won’t have a bear problem,” Hast said.
He said generally, damage bears cause is minimal. However, if an issue is more serious, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife can go to the location to assist. The agency can be reached at 502-564-7863 or 800-858-1549.
“We’re around to help mitigate some of that bear damage, but honestly, we’re there to educate people on how to live with bears,” Hast said. “That’s the goal.”
In the case of an bear encounter, the agency advises the public to never approach or feed bears.
“If you ever encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and never approach it,” the press release states. “If you feel a bear is posing an immediate danger, call local law enforcement immediately.”
Do you have a question about critters in Kentucky for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
This story was originally published June 26, 2024 at 1:20 PM.
