Sightings on the rise

Southeastern Oklahoma is home to many native animals, including foxes, armadillos, bobcats and even the occasional wild boar or hog. But in recent months, there has been a surge in black bear sightings.

According to Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation, sightings are possible anywhere in the eastern half of the state and the western tip of the Panhandle. In the past few years, black bear sightings have been progressing farther west from the bears’ primary range in southeastern and east-central Oklahoma. In recent years, black bears have been seen in Ada and Wewoka, as far north as Grove, and as far west as Wayne.

One Brushy Lake couple recently discovered that they had bears on their private hunting land by accident. The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, set up trail cameras around their land to monitor wildlife. After their deer feeders kept being knocked over, they placed a camera directly in front of it. Upon reviewing the footage, they said, “We saw a few raccoons during the night shots, maybe an owl in the tree. But when we continued scrolling, we were like, ‘NO WAY!’” To their surprise, they had footage of several bears trying to get into their feeder. The couple reset their cameras the following night and captured footage of a (tagged) mother bear and two cubs.

Black bears vary in size, with females (sows) weighing around 180 lbs, while males (boars) can weigh around 400 lbs. When standing on all fours, black bears are about 3 feet tall, but when standing on their hind legs, these bears can reach a height of 5 to 7.5 ft.

For the Brushy Lake couple, the size of the bear was surprising.

“The size of the bear(s) was breathtaking compared to the size of the feeder, and to my husband, who is about 6’5”. And the size of the boar was outrageous, which is something else I’ve also never seen,” the woman said.

Bear sightings are more likely in the warmer months, as mother bears will venture further in search of food, often bringing their cubs along. The black bear’s diet consists of nuts, berries, grasses, insects and even small mammals, but it is important to note that bears are “opportunists” and are easily attracted to the smell of food, often looking for the easiest source (e.g., garbage cans, bird feeders).

Neighboring Adair County has also reported an increase in bear sightings.

Stilwell resident Michael Jones said he has seen “more bears in the last two summers” than he has in his 32 years of living in the county.

“We get wild boars/ hogs occasionally coming through, and I have even seen elk,” Jones said. “But in the past two years, we have seen probably five bears. I think it is because of the drought. They are having to travel farther for food.”

Bear sightings typically occur at night or in places that are not frequented by humans. Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation says that while black bears are often skittish around humans, if a bear finds food without getting frightened away, it may come back for more. Each time this happens, it can become less fearful, and this habituation can lead to problems. Conflicts can heighten during hyperphagia, a feeding frenzy in late summer and fall in which bears bulk up for hibernation, gaining 3 to 4 pounds and consuming 20,000 calories a day.

According to bearwise. org, bears avoid the hottest parts of the day and often relax in daybeds under a nice shady tree. They will also spread out on their lightly furred bellies and take a cool mud bath or chill out in a wetland. Bears will sometimes seek shelter from the sun on a cool, shady stone patio, under decks and porches, or in crawl spaces.

While bears may be cute or comical to watch, it is vital to remember that these are wild animals and can be unpredictable. If you see a bear outside your home, do not attempt to contact or scare it away. Give the bear plenty of space, and go inside your house immediately; bearwise.org recommends calling animal control officials.

To deter bears, the first line of defense is to eliminate any tempting food sources — ensure garbage is in a sealed container, do not leave animal food outside, and ensure that backyard grills are cleaned of any food remnants and stored away safely.

If you encounter a bear in person, and it sees you, you should:

• Keep a safe distance

• Back away slowly

• Make yourself look bigger by lifting and waving your arms

• Make noise by yelling, using noisemakers, or whistles

• DO NOT run

• Do not make eye contact

• Let the bear leave the area on its own