Residents of a Saraland neighborhood opened their doors Monday to an increasingly common sight, black bears roaming the neighborhood “in search of an easy meal,” according to X poster Donna Hughes.
While black bear sightings can come as a shock in residential neighborhoods, Traci Wood, a conservation coordinator with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, says it’s really no surprise at all.
Wood, who works with Auburn University researchers to study black bears in the state, told AL.com previously that Mobile County is home to one of two “reproducing” populations of black bears in Alabama.
That reproducing population is located near Saraland. And the approximately 125 bears in that population stay primarily within a 10-mile radius.
“People think they’re seeing a lot of bears, but they’re really seeing the same bears over and over again,” she said.
Bears are very motivated by food, and Wood told reporter Margaret Kates that black bears, in particular, will search for the easiest food source possible, hence why Saraland residents often see the bears on trash day.
As Saraland continues to build housing to meet its steadily rising population, Wood predicts that human/bear interactions will become more common.
If you spot a black bear that isn’t leaving the area, Wood said you should stand very tall, put your hands in the air, clap and yell, making as much noise as possible, and walk backwards slowly until you get where you need to be.
Residents who encounter bears have been asked to report sightings to the DCNR website, which helps the department track and monitor the black bear population.
If a resident has a question about a bear encounter, they can reach out to the department and get more information.
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