Agencies partner to count Black Bears

Local News

Avoiding Bears Conflicts

Bears are extremely intellegent animals that will quickly learn to associated people and their homes to human-related food. It is important to remember that Black bears do not naturally frequent residential areas unless attraced by food. Here are some things to consider to avoid bear conflicts.
• The most common food attractants are garbage, pet food, bird feeders, human scraps and grills.
* Put out garbage the day of pick-up rather than the night before.
• Never store pet food outside and only feed pets enough for one meal at a time.
• If you see a bear in your neighborhood, remove bird feeders for a minimum of seven days.
• Keep grills clean and free of grease.
• Residential conflicts are most common in June and July during the breeding season when natural foods are limited and male bears are moving in search of females.

Related Photos

UK forestry grad student Sean Murphy and KFW Wildife Biologist Mike Strunk check a ‘hair snare’ for signs of black bears. Janie Slaven

July 20, 2010

Sightings becoming more common

By JANIE SLAVEN News Editor The McCreary County Record Tue Jul 20, 2010, 04:33 PM EDT

GREENWOOD — Everyone knows that the United States Census was taken this spring to count the country’s human population.

What many don’t know is that another census of sorts is underway here in McCreary County.

Through funding from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, the University of Kentucky’s Department of Forestry placed 126 “hair snares” across the county to determine the local black bear population.

In addition to UK and KFW, the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service are assisting with the snares, which consist of barbed wire triangulated around a tree cluster. With everything from sardines to peanut butter left as bait, officials check for hair that has been snagged by individual barbs.

The collected hair is then sent for DNA analysis to determine the number and sex of the bears in the area. The snares can “catch” the bears without physically detaining them.

“This study pairs something as low-tech as barbed wire with something as high-tech as DNA,” KWF Wildlife Biologist Mike Strunk said. “So far we know that all the bears here are from the Smokies and haven’t mixed with the population from eastern Kentucky yet.”

While the Pine Mountain population is well documented, no work has been done on the local population since the National Park Service released 14 females with cubs about 15 years ago.

As the years have passed, bear sightings have become more prevalent in local neighborhoods. While some sightings are never be reported, many nuisance complaints are reported to the McCreary 911 Dispatch Center — a practice that Fish & Wildlife would like to discourage.

“We don’t want to tie up a valuable resource like 911,” Strunk said, adding that it is still important to report sightings so his agency is aware of bear movement.

“Young males will expand out from the core population,” Strunk said. “It should look like a rifle target with concentric circles.”

The local bear population has grown enough that KFW has hired a new officer, Dwight Anderson, to handle complaints in Wayne, McCreary and Whitley counties. Also working closely with the agency is Sean Murphy, a UK graduate student who arrived in May.

In addition to the hair snares, officials have also placed some leg traps to detain bears. They cause no harm to the bear and are checked twice a day. If a bear is caught, it will be sedated and collared so it can be tracked to a den this winter. There reproductive rates, general health and habitat quality can be examined.

“We have healthy bears here compared to Harlan and Letcher counties,” Murphy said. “They are not feeding off dumpsters, which is something we don’t want.”

“Bears can quickly become conditioned to rewards,” Strunk added. “Ninety percent of conflicts are garbage-related. They adapt to us more quickly than we adapt to them.”

To report a bear sighting, call 376-8083 or 1-800-25-ALERT (1-800-252-5378).

Text Only

Local News

UPDATE: 2012 Primary Deadline Extended
FRANKFORT — Candidates who wish to be placed on the ballot for the May primary election must file their candidacy papers by 4 p.m. Eastern Time today.
At press time, only one candidate had filed with the McCreary County Clerk’s Office.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Pine Knot couple sues Kraft
LONDON — A Pine Knot couple is seeking millions from a national corporation over allegations that eating one of its products resulted in the husband’s life-threatening injuries.

February 2, 2012
Duncan headlines annual GOP banquet
STEARNS — McCreary County Republicans can expect to see an old friend this Friday night.
Serving as keynote speaker of the local GOP’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner will be

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Academy makes the grade
STEARNS — The McCreary County Board of Education met in regular session Thursday night, settling several orders of business during their first meeting of the new year.

February 1, 2012 1 Photo
Beshear signs new districts into law
FRANKFORT — 2012 is already proving to be a year of great change for McCreary County as Governor Steve Beshear on Friday signed into law controversial plans to re-draw state legislative districts.

January 25, 2012 1 Photo
True Beauty
WHITLEY CITY — A former Miss McCrearyFest has earned statewide accolades for her community.
Allie Leggett was named first runner-up Sunday night at the Miss Kentucky Teen USA

January 25, 2012 1 Photo
Centennial Celebration taking shape
WHITLEY CITY — Plans to commemorate McCreary County’s 100th birthday are taking shape.
The McCreary County Centennial Committee met last Tuesday to hear updates on

January 25, 2012 1 Photo
Christmas Eve thefts top indictments
WHITLEY CITY — The McCreary County grand jury has issued three separate indictments in connection to a December 24 burglary spree.
Ethan Mavity, 22, of Whitley City, has been indicted for breaking into the Perry-West

January 25, 2012 1 Photo
Inmate returned to MCDC
WHITLEY CITY — A local convict is facing an additional charge after walking away from the McCreary County Detention Center on Friday afternoon.
Rodney Cullen McDowell, 23, of Whitley City walked away from the jail at approximately

January 25, 2012 1 Photo
Not everybody happy about redistricting
FRANKFORT — It's the most partisan of partisan political decisions lawmakers make.
And there were cries from state House Republicans on Wednesday as the majority House Democrats unveiled a state legislative redistricting plan which potentially pits nine

January 18, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Avoiding Bears Conflicts

Related Photos

Agencies partner to count Black Bears

Sightings becoming more common

Site Map

Contact Us