By WVUA 23 News Reporter Paislee Roberts
Some Tuscaloosa residents said they are nervous after two black bears were spotted in recent weeks, but the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division says their presence is anything but odd.
The division’s outreach coordinator, Marianne Gauldin, said bears are not uncommon in Alabama.
“It’s perfectly normal for young male black bears to travel long distances,” Gauldin said. “Sometimes 100 miles or more from where they were with their mothers. They’re no longer dependent on their mothers and aren’t old enough to have their own home range or reproduce, so they just wander around.”
This means they sometimes wander a little further away than the wooded areas where they normally live. But you can keep them from sticking around by keeping your garbage under lock and key and not leaving pet food out.
If you have fruit trees or a garden, these could attract bears.
Are you face to face with a black bear? If you are far enough away to be able to escape into a house or vehicle in an emergency, you can try to scare it away by being loud and waving your arms so it can see you. And don’t block the bear’s escape route.
Want more information? The Carroll’s Creek Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a public black bear seminar on August 29th at 6 p.m. There you will receive suggestions and advice on what to do if you see a bear.
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