Now, for the past few weeks, folks from St. Louis have been abuzz with talk about seeing black bears wandering around in their neighborhoods. These encounters add an element of thrill for some, yet they can spell danger for both us humans and our furry friends.

Now, with the black bear numbers on the uptick Missouri, we’re bumping into these giants more and more often. Conservationists are advising folks to be extra cautious to sidestep putting animals into life-or-death predicaments.

Why a Sated Bear Spells Trouble

Wildlife protectors have taken to heart a chilling axiom: “a fed bear is a dead bear. ” When bears start equating human settlements with convenient grub, they tend to get gutsy and potentially aggressive.  Conservation approaches have proven that once a bear has slipped into these harmful behavioral patterns – to fix without opting for some harsh solutions.

Latest Observations and People’s Responses

Recently, people have spotted a black bear named “Dewey. ” This bear has made appearances in places like Columbia and Belleville. His antics even got the attention of social media and a mention from the Fairview Heights Police Department. Dewey likely came from Missouri, where black bears live, since there are no known populations in Illinois.

Yet, being casual about Dewey and other bears isn’t safe. Nate Bowersock, a Statewide Furbearer Biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), warned us. He said, “We have unfortunately had to remove [or euthanize] a few bears because they got too used to people foods.”

Halting Conflicts between Bears and Humans

To stop these clashes, say conservation experts, by focusing on safekeeping our grub and garbage. Bowersock recommends folks a couple of things to do to help keep the bears from getting used to our hamburgers and hot dogs:

• Never feed bears intentionally or unintentionally.
• Reduce odors by keeping campsites clean and storing food and toiletries securely.
• Empty trash cans frequently and wash them with scented disinfectants to reduce food odors.
• Use metal, lockable lids for outdoor trash bins and keep them locked at night.
• Avoid leaving pet food outside. Feed pets only what they will eat and remove empty containers.
• Keep grills and smokers clean and stored inside.
• Suspend bird feeders from April to November. If necessary, hang them at least 10 feet high and 4 feet from any structure.
• Employ electric fencing around beehives, chicken coops, and other potential food sources.

Alerting about Bear Appearances

People living in the area are strongly urged to give a heads-up about any bear in their surroundings via the MDC’s website. Doing so aids animal care experts in keeping tabs on where bears wander and how to handle potential hazards associated with them.

Growth in Bear Sighting Activities

More and more folks seem to be bumping into black bears in the St. Louis metropolitan belt, matching an annual 8% swell in Missouri’s bear count. This increase triggers an extra worry, as it hints at a higher probability of such encounters in crowded locals, sending up a red flag for those in charge.

Karen Colombo, a local woman, couldn’t hide her surprise at spotting a bear in Sunset Hills, Missouri.  “If someone told me they’d seen a bear, I’d never think it would be around these parts. But here we are,” she commented.

Bears, especially the black ones, need a good amount of energy; that way they are driven to look out for food pretty seriously, opening up new feeding grounds. From late spring touching early summer, young bear clans go on a food hunt across —adult males, meanwhile, travel miles and miles for mates. Now, bears are not typically the aggressive type; yet their size matched with strength can create trouble when they rummage through human neighborhoods searching for grub.

Guidelines for Bear Encounters

If you happen to cross paths with a bear, the MDC offers these useful pointers:

•  Do not approach the bear. 
•  Back away slowly, keeping your arms raised.
•  Speak calmly and do not turn your back.
•  Walk away slowly and ensure the bear has an escape route.
•  Report sightings to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Charles Granger, a fellow dweller, filmed a bear strolling in the White Acres Estates community. “Eight inches can totally upend your life,” Granger observed. “It’s not something you grow accustomed to. You just chuckle and endure it. ”

The Bear Boom in Missouri

Missouri now has nearly 1,000 black bears. To manage this, Missouri started bear hunting in 2021. They issued 400 permits for hunters. The season is from mid to late October.

Efforts on Conservation and Public Enlightenment

As our numbers rise, those working hard in conservation are emphasizing the crucial need for people to be informed, and act responsibly, to make sure our bears stay wild and safe. The people calling the shots believe that a young bear, caught on camera recently, is probably making a beeline for areas where folks are not so tightly packed together.

“If it’s no harm, let it do its thing,” voices Dan Zarlenga, the man who speaks for the Missouri Department of Conservation. He further encourages, “Don’t go after it; don’t even think about feeding it or bothering it in any way, shape or form. ”

Wrapping it Up

Now, as the population of black bears in Missouri is on an upward trajectory, crossings between our paths and theirs will likely shoot up too. The answer lies in heeding the advice from conservation experts and making sure these magnificent beasts don’t come across easy meals in our homes and communities. Plus, by showing some foresight today in how we act, we could sidestep future tragedies.