Latest news with #AlabamaWildlife
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Black Bear spotted around Huntsville, officials provide tips on what to do if you spot one
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — This week, Huntsville residents have reported seeing a black bear roaming around the area. One sighting was reported near the Marina Park neighborhood in Huntsville. Another location where a black bear was seen was at Redstone Arsenal. News 19 reached out to Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division to get more information surrounding public interaction with black bears. Bears can be seen anywhere in Alabama – especially this time of year. It is normal and expected to have bear sightings. Black bears are There is no reason to capture the bears, they are a natural part of Alabama's wildlife landscape. There have not been any reports of public safety concerns. A bear that is behaving normally is not a threat to public safety. Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division However, the division did inform News 19 of some things landowners can do to prevent conflicts with black bears and ensure that they don't linger around. According to the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, black bears have some sort of routine in the month of June: Cubs will leave their mom and search for food Cubs will shelter in a place of their own Adult males travel to look for mates Nursing moms travel farther away from their home base to find food Cubs keep growing and developing Officials say never feed or approach a bear and make sure to secure outside items like food or garbage that might attract a bear. To see a list of tips on how to handle black bear sightings, click here. The Huntsville Police Department told News 19 that their department has also received calls for the reported bear sightings. However authorities are re-directing all questions to the Alabama Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
What to do if you encounter a black bear in Alabama
HUNTSVILLE, Ala (WHNT) — To the surprise of some Huntsville residents this week, a black bear was caught on camera roaming around their houses. While this sight may make you do a double-take, experts say black bear sightings in Alabama are actually pretty common. Black Bear spotted around Huntsville, officials provide tips on what to do if you spot one 'May through late July, bears are their most active and more likely to be seen statewide,' said Marianne Gauldin. Gauldin is a biologist with the Alabama Wildlife and Fisheries Division. She said many are fearful of black bears, but they are not there to bother you. 'If they're behaving normally, they won't approach you, and if you don't have an attractant out for them, they typically won't stick around for long,' she said. Although the sightings are not out of the ordinary, there are a few things you can do to prevent these four-legged friends from paying you a visit. Family remembers daughter who died in 2021 crash as DUI case approaches end 'Bears are attracted to anything that would attract a raccoon,' she said. 'So think about it….anything that you leave outside that a raccoon would approach, a bear would approach. This includes pet food, left outside trash, left outside bird feeders, even a summertime grill that smells like hot dogs.' If you're immediate reaction is to quietly sneak away, Gauldin said you should actually do the opposite. 'Make sure that it sees you too,' she said. 'Clap your hands, wave your arms above your head, and holler at it.' She said the tactic of 'playing dead' does not apply to black bears. 'If you were to find yourself in hand-to-hand combat in Alabama with a black bear, fight back, pick up rocks, poke it in the eyes, punch it in the nose, all of those things,' said Gauldin. At the end of the day, they're just there to go through your trash looking for food and give you a good laugh on your camera. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
