It's bear season, and people in Richmond are reporting seeing the lumbering predatory mammals in unusual areas.
While the bears are usually found in more rural places, at the start of June, a young animal was seen in a neighborhood late at night and again in the early morning. So far, the encounters with the creature have been uneventful; the bear would come out from a wooded area, be seen by someone, and then hurry back to the woods.
The early summer months are a busy time for bear sightings, according to local wildlife officials. Younger animals are setting out on their own for the first time, while older male bears are often on the hunt for a partner.
So far, authorities don't consider them to be threatening.
Wildlife officials can use flyer printing to inform people of what to do if they see a bear. For example, people shouldn't walk up to one if they see it in the woods or in a residential area. Instead, they should make a lot of noise while a maintaining a safe distance from the animal.
It's also against the law to feed a bear. People should avoid leaving items that would attract one – such as trash cans and garbage, bird feeders and pet food – in an open area.
Last year, people reported 600 bear encounters. It's estimated that the number of sightings will be even higher this year.
