Black Bear Mating Season Means More Sightings Across Kentucky

My chances of seeing a black bear, outside of a zoo, are likely slim to none. I've only ever seen one coyote in person (in my rearview mirror), and I've never seen hide nor hair of a bobcat. And the latter two are natives of western Kentucky; the black bear is not, even though he has made the rare cameo in these parts from time to time.

Black Bear Mating Season in Kentucky

For Kentucky's largest concentration of black bears, you'll have to head east into the Appalachian region. Sightings in Appalachia are not uncommon, but, then again, neither are sightings in backyards and urban areas this time of year. That's according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, who encourage us to become more familiar with black bear behavior because they do wander in late spring and early summer; it's their mating season. Also, the agency reminds us that black bears are naturally afraid of humans and dogs, so encounters would be quite rare.

That means they might just show up where they otherwise would not, under normal circumstances. The KDFWR has published a map detailing the highest and lowest concentrations of black bears in the Commonwealth.

Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources

I have been wanting one of these, so I will be hanging onto it. As I mentioned earlier, we don't see a lot of black bears in western Kentucky, but that map tells me we've had far more sightings than I would have guessed. (Wow, way down in Fulton County, too; I just noticed that.)

For those who feel they might have a visit from a black bear, Kentucky Fish & Wildlife suggests securing your garbage, don't leave pet food outside, and store your barbecue grill.

While black bears very rarely pose a physical threat to humans, you don't want to be the "guinea pig" that surprises one and tests that behavior.

[SOURCE: WYMT-Hazard]