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A grizzly situation for Loudoun residents

Tuesday, Aug. 9 by Laura Peters | 15 comments | Email this story

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On Aug. 9 a bear was seen on Janney Street in the subdivision of Leesburg Country Club. County Club residents Oliver and Linda Peters captured the bear pulling down their bird feeder located in their backyard. Sandy Schlegel, a resident of Country Club who lives on Clagett Street says that what is thought to be the same bear, which she calls BooBoo, was seen in the early morning of Aug. 9 in her backyard. Courtesy Photo/Linda Peters

Loudoun County has its share of animal sightings, but according to John Rohm of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, hes received more calls of black bear sightings this year than previous years. Rohm says there have been multiple bear sightings, but there might only be about three to four bears in the area. The same bears are likely just roaming in different areas trying to find food. Its been a very active year, a little more active since Ive been here, Rohm says of being with the department since 2005. Most of the bears in the area are finding refuge in residents bird feeders or trash cans, Rohm said. He says that once the bears figure out how to get the bird seed out of the feeders they will return to the same spots for food. Its such an easy food source so once they learn how to get the bird seed, theyll keep doing it, Rohm said. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries began receiving calls starting around January and February from residents who reported seeing bears in Morven Park in the Leesburg area. But some bears are traveling as far as Dulles Airport, where one was spotted on the airports property. Another was found on the side of the Dulles Toll Road, the victim of an apparent collision. Rohm also said that some bears from Loudoun might be moving toward the Reston and Fairfax areas - but are slowly returning to Loudoun in search of more land. Residents on July 7 reported a black bear on Woodburn Road by Sydnor Hill Court in Leesburg. The bear sighted on Sydnor Hill has been said to be a mother bear with two cubs. Rohm says the other bears that have been seen in the area are most likely younger male cubs, around 2 years old, whove been kicked out of the mothers den to be on their own. According to Laura Rizer of Loudoun County Animal Control, black bear sightings in Loudoun County is relatively normal around this time of year.

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This is the time of year when the 2-year-old cubs are being kicked out by their mom, so theyre trying to find their own place in the world and theyre moving, Rizer said. Since weve become such a dense population, especially in the rural areas, theyve traveled further and are going through more populated areas as theyre trying to find their little spot. Rizer says Loudoun Animal Control gets about a dozen reports of black bear sightings each year, but its the responsibility of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to investigate the calls. The only time that the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries intervenes is if the animal is sick, injured or considered a threat, according to Rizer, but she also mentions the bears sighted in the area arent a threat to the community. The bears are much more afraid of us than we are of them. Their instinct is to avoid us, Rizer said. They have no interest in us and no interest in attacking us. Their instinct is to lay low and keep moving. When you do see one, just let them be, let them pass, give them a good distance and let them go on their way and theyll be fine. Rizer said bears usually make their way into populated areas to search for is food in trashcans, bird feeders or any other outdoor food sources, especially those found on farms. Bear sightings are actually good for Loudoun County because it equates to a healthy ecosystem, Rizer said. Residents who see a bear and believe them to be a threat should contact the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services at 703-777-0406 for eastern Loudoun and 540-882-3211 for western Loudoun. Residents may also contact the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries regional location in Fredericksburg at 540-899-4169.

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The black bear, seen standing up on it's hind legs has been seen numerous times in the Leesburg Country Club area. Many Country Club residents on Janney and Clagett streets say their bird feeders have been knocked down or destroyed by what they think is the bear pictured here. Courtesy Photo/Linda Peters

Courtesy Photo/Linda Peters

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Comments
Fri, Aug 12 at 09:34 AM by CW | Report this comment

@ AlbyYour commentBreak out the 30-06. It couldnt ask for a better shot. I need a new rug in front of my TV. Well, Alby, if I see you around I will break out my tranq gun. Shouldnt be hard to miss you-I need a new fat/stupid guy rug in front of my bookshelf.
Thu, Aug 11 at 11:37 PM by nrcbtm1 | " class="blue2">Report this comment

Kingpin: Heres a mnemonic I created to help me remember when to use the

apostrophe in its: An apostrophe doesnt belong in its when its mean belong to it. This works in two ways. 1) Easy ditty to remember. 2) The apostrophe in the contraction doesnt reminds me that the convention is to use apostrophe for contractions such as it is and"it has.
Thu, Aug 11 at 12:19 PM by Yogi | Report this comment

@ Bill, I think you would find that the majority of those attacks were caused by humans interfering with a mother and her cubs. There have also been incidents of attacks when boneheads antagonize black bears. Respect their space and they will respect yours. Of the many, many encounters I have had with Black Bears, they are usually high tailing to get away from me. Not a sermon, just a thought. There is NO need to fear black bears.
Thu, Aug 11 at 07:37 AM by Bill | Report this comment

They have no interest in us and no interest in attacking us. - Tell that to all the people that have been attacked by black bears in this country over the years. Yes, black bear attacks are very rare, but it is a lie to say they will never attack people.
Wed, Aug 10 at 02:30 PM by FakeFaceBookGuy | Report this comment

Break out the stew pot!!

Wed, Aug 10 at 01:45 PM by Susan Dean | Report this comment

DO NOT call Animal Control over a bear sighting or any wildlife sighting! Wildlife lives in Loudoun County so ENJOY IT!!
Wed, Aug 10 at 12:18 PM by Kingpin | Report this comment

I hope Times editors did NOT go to school in Loudoun! Its> its please
Wed, Aug 10 at 11:29 AM by Grizz | Report this comment

I hang out with bears all the time, they arent aggressive unless you are a yuppie. Sometimes we mess with the neighbors trash cans for fun, but most of the time we just catch and eat small animals.
Wed, Aug 10 at 08:14 AM by Go back to the city | Report this comment

Awwwwww!! Look at the cute bear! I bet hes soft and cuddly. Pampered Loudouners are telling their kids to stay away from soft and cuddly things. Might as well take away their teddy bears.
Wed, Aug 10 at 04:02 AM by fairytale | contact lens " class="blue2">Report this comment

The bears are lovely really from the pictures. But i wonder that the people around wont scared? Maybe they are enjoying living with this unexpected neiborhood. And i really hope the animals and humans can get well with each other. We are friends. Thanks for your sharing. contact lens
Tue, Aug 09 at 09:44 PM by Fiona Graham | " class="blue2">Report this comment

Scary! Bears really bring fear to the Perth Escorts. Who wants to protect us, please?
Tue, Aug 09 at 09:27 PM by Captain Obvious | Report this comment

Is there a Peters connection?

Tue, Aug 09 at 08:41 PM by BanphrionsaSiobhan | Report this comment

Poor headlinegrizzlies arent black bears, and there is nothing grizzly about a bear playing with bird feeders. But I must admit, Boo Boo is cute!
Tue, Aug 09 at 06:54 PM by Yogi | Report this comment

Hahaha. Bird seed is like candy to black bears. They love it. This is great, I love seeing this. Provided they do not become a nuisance.
Tue, Aug 09 at 05:19 PM by Alby | Report this comment

Break out the 30-06. It couldnt ask for a better shot. I need a new rug in front of my TV.

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