(WYMT) -Black bears are appearing in Kentucky neighborhoods where they are not typically seen, but wildlife experts say there is no cause for alarm.<\/p>\n
The sightings are normal behavior for this time of year, according to John Hast, bear program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re well into bear breeding season. We\u2019re well into the heat of the summer. Bears are moving. Everybody\u2019s been out of their den for several months now,\u201d Hast said.<\/p>\n
Older, dominant male bears in Eastern Kentucky are pushing younger bears out of their territory during mating season. These younger bears, often called \u201cteenagers,\u201d can wander for weeks, traveling 20 miles or more in a single day as they search for food and a place of their own.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just don\u2019t know really what they\u2019re getting into. And we find that a lot of times they\u2019ll roll into those places overnight when everything\u2019s quiet… and then the sun will come up… and they tend to freak out at that point,\u201d Hast said.<\/p>\n
To prevent bears from lingering near residential areas, experts recommend removing anything that smells like food. This includes locking up trash cans, bringing in pet food and taking down bird feeders.<\/p>\n
In Kentucky, it is illegal to knowingly leave food out for bears.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf your neighbor says they\u2019ve seen one, keep the garbage in the garage, keep it in an outbuilding for a couple of weeks and you\u2019ll be good to go,\u201d Hast said.<\/p>\n
Biologists say these bears are naturally afraid of people and will usually move on if left alone. Most of the wandering juveniles are expected to instinctively head back to the mountains by fall.<\/p>\n
If you encounter a bear, do not approach it. Enjoy the rare sight from a distance and let it find its way back home.<\/p>\n