Community Corner

Black Bear Spotted in DC May Be the Same One Seen in Montgomery County

A black bear was spotted three times in Montgomery County last week.

By Whitney Teal

For all of the Washington, DC area's modes of transportation, one adventurous black bear is making major moves across the region on just four paws. 

A black bear that was spotted in Northwest Washington Wednesday morning may be the same animal that residents in Germantown and Gaithersburg caught glimpses of last week, said Scott Giacoppo, vice-president of external affairs for the Washington Humane Society.

(See a map of where the bear has traveled, above.)

The bear was spotted near the intersection of 49th Street NW and Glenbrook Road NW in the District Wednesday, a release from Washington Humane Society reported. Animal Care and Control officers from the society confronted the bear, who "appeared frightened" before darting through the backyards of homes in the area, the humane society said. 

After two hours, the bear was close enough to shoot with a tranquilizer dart. Workers from the DC Department of Health and the Metropolitan Police Department helped to tranquilize and trap the animal, who was deemed healthy, the release said.

From there, Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) worked with the organization to arrange transport of the bear to a wildlife preserve area in western Montgomery County, Giacoppo said. 

Workers from DNR said they were "confident" that it was the same bear spotted in Montgomery County last week, Giacoppo said. The cub was tagged on the ear so that if he is ever captured again, he can be identified. 

DNR officials have warned residents of several counties in Maryland, including Montgomery and Prince George's, that black bears may leave the woods during the summer months. 

The department offered the following tips for bear sightings:

  • Back away slowly.
  • Go inside and wait for the bear to leave.
  • Most bears fear people and will leave when they see you.
  • If a bear woofs, snaps its jaws, slaps the ground or brush, or bluff charges: You are too close!
  • Learn to tolerate bears. Many bears are killed or injured when not causing problems.
  • DON’T PANIC! DON’T SHOOT! DON’T APPROACH IT!

Have you ever spotted a bear in Montgomery County? What did you do?


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