Black Bear Sighting Reported In Vienna, What To Do

VIENNA, VA — Black bear sightings in Vienna have prompted multiple calls to the Vienna Police Department, the town government said Sunday night.

The most recent black bear sighting was reported in the area of the 300 block of Park Street NE. That follows a sighting earlier this month at a McLean home, where a black bear was searching for food in a trash bin.

Black bears are typically 5 to 6 feet long, weigh 100 to 400 pounds and have a dark brown to black body with a light brown or tan muzzle, according to Fairfax County government's website. These bears are omnivores and may eat fruits, berries, plants, nuts, insects, small mammals and fawns in nature. They may also be interested in farm crops, gardens, small livestock, beehives, bird feeder seeds, pet food and garbage.

According to Fairfax County government, black bear sightings are not common in Fairfax County, but there have been sightings in the spring and summer as bears search for food in residential areas. Black bears are most active at dusk and dawn, but are active at night in urban areas.

By nature, bears tend to avoid people and generally do not pose a threat to humans. According to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, black bears have a natural distrust of humans, are shy, and usually avoid people. However, bears may become more comfortable around people over time if they find food sources in residential areas.

If a resident spots a black bear, they should move all people and pets inside, do not approach or feed it, and report the sighting to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources at 855-571-9003. Fairfax County Animal Protection Police do not respond to remove bears from neighborhoods.

Here are some more tips from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to make a bear encounter less likely:

• Do not feed bears. It is illegal under Virginia code to place or distribute food, minerals, carrion, trash, or similar substances to feed or attract a bear.
• Remove bird feeders. It is recommended not to put out food for birds from April–November. Instead, plant native seed-bearing plants or use water features to attract birds to your home.
• Secure your garbage. Store garbage indoors, in a shed or garage, or in a bear-resistant container. Put garbage out on the morning of pickup, not the night before, or take it to the dump frequently.
• Pick up pet food. Feed pets outdoors only what they will eat in a single feeding or feed them indoors. Remove all uneaten food and do not leave food out overnight.
• Do not put meat scraps in the compost pile. Keep compost away from house.
• Pick up and remove ripe fruit from fruit trees and surrounding grounds.
• Clean the grill often. Do not dump drippings in your yard and run the grill an extra 5 minutes to burn off grease.
• Install electric fencing to protect beehives, dumpsters, gardens, compost piles, or other potential food sources.
• Don’t store food, freezers, refrigerators, or trash on porches.
• Use harassment techniques while removing the attractant to get the bear to move off your property. Paintballs are one option that are nonlethal, won’t harm the bear if shot at the rump, but are painful enough to get the bear moving away from homes.
• Talk to your neighbors. Make sure your neighbors and community administrators are aware of the ways to prevent bears from causing problems.
• Learn about black bears. Learning about bears will prevent negative interactions and dispel unfounded fears.