By Krysty Schmid
Contributing writer

For most people the closest they will ever come to a bear is a trip to the zoo or a show on the Discovery Channel. But Powhatan resident Alice Youngblood has had the unique experience of meeting a bear up close and in person, so to speak.

About two years ago she spotted a medium-sized black bear sitting under one of her apple trees. That night the bear made his presence known by bending the wrought iron pole of her bird feeder to the ground and eating the birdseed that fell out. He then proceeded to the back porch, where he finished off another 10 pounds of birdseed stored there.

Still not satisfied, he wandered over to the chicken yard and polished off a hefty serving of chicken feed and cracked corn before ambling back off into the woods.

Then, two years later, he returned in the dead of night to help himself to what he most likely rememberd as an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Youngblood said the bear wasted no time in flattening the bird feeder pole once more. However, this time his feast was cut short by an attentive collie. The dog, a notoriously light sleeper, woke to the sound of the bear rummaging around and chased him off before anyone could see what the ruckus was about. In the morning, said Youngblood, the evidence of the bear’s midnight escapade was there for all to see.

The bear that recently caused all the commotion was a North American black bear, Youngblood reported.

Not nearly as large as the brown bear or grizzly bear, the black bear is the only bear species found in Virginia. According to information provided by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, most bears live in the mountains and the Dismal Swamp, but they can be found all over the state.

Females typically weigh 90 to 250 pounds while males can weigh anywhere from 130 to 500 pounds.

Although they are usually solitary animals, adult bears may be seen together during the summer breeding season. Occasionally a mother bear is seen accompanied by her cubs, in which case it is a wise idea to stay far away. Mother bears tend to be very protective of their young.

With that exception, black bears are typically non-confrontational and non-aggressive and are easily scared away by dogs and loud noises.

While bears may be seen at any time of the day they are most active at dawn and dusk.

Most bear sightings in residential areas occur because bears are very attracted to convenient food sources. In the wild, black bears are omnivorous and usually eat plants, berries, insects and nuts. However, bears are certainly not known for turning down an easy meal.

The biggest attractions that draw them into populated areas in search of food are birdfeeders, garbage and pet food. Grills, compost and fruit trees are also on the list of red flags.

Fortunately, food-related bear issues can typically be resolved quickly. The first step is to remove the food source that is attracting the bear.

If you encounter a bear it is best not to approach and to give it space to flee. Take pets inside and stay out of the immediate area. When dealing with bears, or any type of wildlife for that matter, it is important to remember that it is not that animal that is invading your property. It is people who are continuously encroaching on the natural habitats of these beautiful creatures. The clear-cutting of trees and the building of subdivisions and shopping malls where sprawling forests used to be is leaving animals like bears with fewer places to call home.

Therefore it is not surprising when, occasionally, a bear wanders through the backyards of a neighborhood where it used to forage for nuts and berries.

For Alice Youngblood, who is used to everything from deer and raccoons, to coyotes in the distance and a bobcat in the front yard, a bear seems like just another wild critter to add to the veritable menagerie already calling her backyard home. For everyone else it might be best if bears remained a wildlife treasure best enjoyed and admired from a safe distance.

For more information on bears or any other type of wildlife, contact the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at (804) 367-1258.

Krysty Schmid is an intern at Powhatan Today