Black bear sightings in the DMV are on the rise, according to Montgomery County Parks and Recreation. A male black bear was spotted in Germantown about a week and a half ago.
On Wednesday morning in Prince George’s County, a bear was spotted in Hyattsville. Another was seen in D.C. Wednesday morning, the second black bear sighting in the Brookland section of Northeast in two years.
The Brookland black bear, not to be confused with last year's visitor affectionally named Franklin, is causing quite a stir among neighbors in Brookland.
“I was like ‘Oh my gosh it's a bear!” recalled Elizabeth Knox.
“Apparently words getting around the bear community that this is the place to be,” added Jerid Kurtz.
This year's black bear is now named Otis after the street where it was first spotted.
“It was right in front of the Brookland House and Garden Tour sign,” said Laura Wilkinson Behrens pointing to her front yard. Wilkinson Behrens lives near 14th and Newton. Her neighbor snapped a picture that she said will now grace her holiday card this year.
“There was a bear in my front yard, and I think you can only say that if you live in Alaska or Canada but hey - the nation’s Capital,” said Wilkinson Behrens. “Once is a coincidence, two is a pattern. So, perhaps we should be concerned about climate change and why are bears coming out of the woods into the city?"
"It's urban sprawl," added Peter Semler. "As long as the suburbs keep sprawling we're going to have more bear sightings."
After the recent bear sightings in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources warned that bears leave their winter dens in search of food.
Elizabeth Knox lives across the street and spotted the bear when she was in the kitchen with the kids before school.
“All of the kids got on the back porch, and we watched it walk through our yards, our neighbor’s yard, and we watched it walk into Fort Bunker Hill Park,” said Knox. “It looked like it belonged here.”
Knox called the Humane Alliance which started to patrol the neighborhood along with the police in hopes of finding and eventually relocating the bear.
“I just love the idea that there's a bear here, I just love it! We have wonderful yards and then we have Fort Bunker Hill which is just perfect, the bear could live in Fort Bunker Hill!” laughed Mary Pat Rowan.
Photojournalist James Hash and I went on a hike, scanning the tree canopy. After all, Franklin the bear was carefully captured last summer after he was caught snoozing in a tree limb.
We spotted a jogger – but no bear. Meanwhile, back on the block, Knox plans to prep her kids before their daily morning walks.
“We talk about strange people and being safe in traffic,” she explained, “but a chat about bear safety is now due.”
Here are some tips in case you encounter a bear. According to the National Park Service, you should:
- Remain calm
- Speak loudly to identify yourself as a human
- Wave your hands to make yourself seem big
- Slowly walk away, do not run
If you spot the Brookland black bear, call the Human Rescue Alliance at 202-723-5730.