Bears popping up in backyards is something the county has seen before.
To a hungry black bear, food particles in the trash can or a bird feeder full of seeds is the perfect reason to venture into a backyard in Fairfax
County to have a feast. With winter coming, and their long hibernation, the fall months are a good time to fatten up, so that’s what they’re looking to do, and a few have been spotted recently in Fairfax Station and Burke.
Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) was not surprised when his office got the calls over the last couple of weeks. "Just about every year we have bear sightings in the county and we regularly remind our residents on social media and in our newsletters on how to safely coexist with bears. This year there have been more sightings, this is likely due to the additional number of residents at home and/or enjoying the outdoors during the pandemic," Herrity said.
According to Katherine Edwards, Wildlife Management Specialist with the Fairfax County Police Department, the area black bears have wandered in this year, and she’s gotten reports of bear sightings in Annandale, Chantilly, Centreville, Clifton, Fairfax, Falls Church, Oakton, Mclean, Reston, and Vienna during spring through early fall this year. “While seeing a bear in a yard may be surprising to residents, bear activity in Fairfax County is not as uncommon as one might think,” Edwards said via email. As in the case of other Virginia wildlife, as their natural habitat shrinks, they stick to wooded areas and there are many green space corridors in the county they use as travel pathways. Some go to backyards, where the trash, pet food and bird feeders are so that’s what attracts them.
“Unattended pumpkins left outside from Halloween or used for fall décor may also serve as a food source and an attractant for bears and other wildlife in our communities,” Edwards said.
Black bears are the most common variety of bear in this area, but they stay away from people so the risk of an attack is minimal. “To our knowledge, based on the reports we have received, this bear has not exhibited any abnormal behavior that might be considered a risk to public safety,” Edwards said.
Bearwise program was developed by black bear biologists and is supported by State wildlife agencies that supplies information and solutions that help people, neighborhoods and communities prevent problems and keep bears wild. They operate in the southeastern United states. Of the 15 states that Bearwise works with, Virginia ranks second behind North Carolina for the number of black bears with an estimated 18,000 roaming around.
8 Ways to Make Your Property Unattractive to Bears
Preventing problems with bears is a shared responsibility. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Fairfax county wildlife management specialist recommend the following simple steps to reduce your chances of encountering a black bear in your neighborhood:
- Secure your garbage in bear-resistant trash cans or store it in a secure building.
- If you have trash collection service, put your trash out the morning of the pickup, not the night before.
- Do not store household trash, or anything that smells like food, in vehicles, on porches or decks.
- Remove bird feeders if a bear is in the area and keep them down for 3-4 weeks. Bird feeders are a common lure for bears in Fairfax County.
- Keep your grill clean. Do not dump drippings in your yard.
- Don’t put meat scraps in your compost pile.
- Don’t leave pet food outdoors.
- Make sure your neighbors are following the same recommendations.
Report Bear Sightings to the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline 1-855-571-9003
If a resident sees a bear in their yard, from a safe distance, they should make loud noises, shout, or bang pots and pans to scare the bear, Bearwise said. To prevent surprising a bear, make noise and check the area before proceeding or letting pets outside. If someone unexpectedly surprises a bear, they should make themselves look bigger by raising their arms, repeat “Hey, bear” while backing away. They advise people not to run: do not turn your back, do not play dead. If a bear is up a tree on or near the property, they should give it space, not approach the bear, and bring pets inside to provide the bear a clear path to leave the property.