Possibly for the first time in almost a hundred years a black bear has been seen in Carroll County. As reported in the Carroll County Times on May 26, a yearling bear was seen in the Union Mills and Westminster area.
History of Maryland black bears
When settlers arrived in Carroll County, black bears roamed statewide across Maryland. However, by the late 1800s and early 1900s, the black bear population had dropped dramatically. Settlers cleared the landscape for agriculture, industry, and timber production, resulting in most of Maryland's suitable black bear habitat being lost. Settlers feared black bears and they killed them whenever a bear was encountered. This indiscriminate killing, combined with the large-scale habitat loss and a lack of conservation laws, eliminated black bears from most parts of the state.
According to Md. DNR, by the mid-20th century, black bears could only be found in the rugged mountainous areas in Western Maryland. By the mid- 1950s, only a few bears were estimated to remain in the state. In 1953, the black bear hunting season was closed due to concerns of a dwindling bear population. In 1972, the status of black bears was changed from "forest game animal" to "endangered species" in Maryland.
Maryland black bear facts
Bears are the largest mammal in Maryland. Adult bears usually weigh between 125 and 400 pounds, although bears weighing 600 pounds or more are not uncommon. Adult female black bears achieve a maximum weight of 150-300 pounds.
Adult females have an average home range of about 13 square miles, while adult males can cover 25 square miles or more. Young bears striking out on their own can travel 100-150 miles in search of new territory. These young travelers are most likely the ones spotted in late spring and early summer outside of the normally considered home range of Maryland black bears.
Bears are opportunistic feeders, which mean they will eat whatever is easily accessible. Largely vegetarian, common foods include berries, other fruits, acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, insects, roots, grasses, reptiles, amphibians, fish and carrion. As the opportunity arises, bears will also eat garbage, agricultural crops and bird food. Bears feed heavily during the fall months in order to increase fat reserves for the upcoming long winter.
In Maryland, there are no known cases of a human being attacked by a black bear.
Maryland black bear population status
Currently, Md. DNR reports that in Maryland there is a breeding population of black bears in the four westernmost counties (Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Frederick). The highest bear densities are found in Garrett and western Allegany Counties. However with the annual increase of bear sightings each spring throughout Frederick, Baltimore, Cecil, Harford and now Carroll counties, it may not be long before this population zone is expanded.
The black bear was removed from the state "endangered species" list in 1980 and listed as a "nongame species of special concern." In 1985, the status of the black bear was once again changed from a nongame species to a forest game species.
Resulting from the increased health and growth of forests in Western Maryland and the conservation measures taken throughout the mid-Appalachian region, the Western Maryland landscape is now home to a healthy, thriving black bear population. Md. DNR research and population monitoring have shown an increasing trend in the black bear population since the 1980s.
A 1991 population study estimated 79 bears in Garrett County. In 2000, Md. DNR conducted another population study that estimated 227 adult and subadult bears in Garrett and western Allegany counties.
By 2005 population estimates conducted across Garrett and Allegany counties, yielded an estimated population of 326 adult and subadult black bears in the same area. Md. DNR is preparing to conduct another intense population study, and places the current Maryland black bear population at around 600 bears.
On a side note - spend anytime in Western Maryland and the locals will claim the bear population to be much higher than Md. DNR's estimates. However, I have discussed this with Harry Spiker, Md. DNR's bear biologist, and he strongly believes in their methods in studying and estimating the bear population.
