A state wildlife expert in DeKalb County said Friday the number of resident black bears has increased significantly since just a few years ago.

Tracy Nelson, a wildlife biologist with the Alabama Department of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, said he estimates as many as 10 black bears now make their home in DeKalb County, mostly on Lookout Mountain. He said that's up from no resident black bears just eight years ago.

And though there were black bear sightings over the past decade, Nelson said those were transient bears moving through but not in DeKalb.

"As far as the black bear population goes in the past eight years, we've had an influx of activity in eastern Alabama, including DeKalb County," Nelson said. "It appears we have had some bears coming to the area and setting up home ranges and having cubs here."

Nelson said he bases the population estimate on the number of sightings over the years. He said reports have gone from about 10 a year eight years ago to between 50-60 a year in recent years.

"Especially on Lookout Mountain around Mentone and the Cloudland, Ga. area, there have been more sightings of bears there," Nelson said. "There's a growing black bear population in southern Appalachian states, such as Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. You couple that with more construction projects in the mountainous areas, they are being pushed out of their ranges. Northeast Alabama has ideal black bear habitat.

Nelson said he attributes the increase in black bear numbers on the resources available locally.

"We have lots of what black bears like to eat," Nelson said. "They are mainly vegetarian. They eat leaves, nuts, fruits and other crops."

And he said he expects the trend to continue.

"I expect we will be getting more," Nelson said. "As the mothers have more cubs - one about every two years - they are going to stay because there is abundant food and range. If the reports keep climbing like they have in the past five years, we should have a pretty good bear population in next 10 years."

With the recent increase in sightings, Nelson said there's really nothing to worry about for those who might come across a black bear in the wild.

"These bears learn that they can find scraps of food, usually in dumpsters or trash cans," Nelson said. "Sometimes it becomes necessary to tranquilize and move a nuisance bear because of this type of behavior. Bears will usually avoid humans. They're moving into this area from other regions where they've been hunted, so they will generally stay away from people.

"The truth is, you are more likely to die from a bee sting than from a bear attack. The bears just like it here."