DEVELOPING: Bear spotted in North Arlington neighborhoods | ARLnow.com
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DEVELOPING: Bear spotted in North Arlington neighborhoods

By ARLnow.com
1/5

There have been multiple sightings of a black bear in North Arlington neighborhoods this morning (Monday).

The first sightings were reported in the Yorktown neighborhood.

“Neighbor spotted small bear in backyard,” one tipster wrote to ARLnow. “South of Yorktown High School, near N. Florida St and 26th Rd. N.”

Others posted on the local social network Nextdoor, including one Yorktown resident who photographed the bear walking from a sidewalk onto a home’s front yard. Notably, it’s garbage collection day in the neighborhood.

“Just had a black bear the size of a Newfoundland dog in my backyard in Yorktown neighborhood — 2500 block of North Florida St.,” a Nextdoor user wrote around 7 a.m. “He climbed over a 6ft fence into the neighbors property. Be careful before you or your dogs go out!”

“Black bear sighting in Arlington (around 8:30am on 5/13) on N Harrison and 26th St, right up the street from Safeway,” another Nextdoor user wrote around 8:45 a.m. “It ran out of sight into a development.”

“That is right by the Chestnut Hills playground,” wrote another resident, in response. “Would you be able to call the non-emergency number for the police and tell them?”

The bear, however, appears to be making its way southwest.

“Bear sighting at 25th Road and John Marshall Drive at 9am,” said a ARLnow tipster in the Williamsburg neighborhood.

A minute-and-a-half video posted on Nextdoor around 9:15 a.m. showed the bear roaming around N. Ottawa Street, near Langston Blvd and just east of East Falls Church. Shortly thereafter, another post reported that the bear had crossed Langston Blvd and was on the 2300 block of N. Powhatan Street.

Photos shared with ARLnow showed the bear exploring a home’s outdoor basketball court on N. Powhatan Street before hopping a fence. At last check, the bear was said to be heading in the direction of Washington Blvd.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington, meanwhile, says it’s aware of the bear sightings. The organizations says residents should not try to track the bear and should keep pets on a leash.

There were multiple bear sightings in D.C. last week. Last night a Nextdoor user reported seeing a bear of a similarly small size in the District’s Wesley Heights neighborhood, within roaming distance of Chain Bridge.

Young black bears were previously spotted roaming around North Arlington neighborhood in June of 2022 and 2023.

Earlier this month, the Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources posted a press release reminding residents that bear activity increases in the spring. The release, below, has safety tips for those who spot a bear.

As spring approaches, both people and wild animals become more active. The spring months are a busy time for wildlife, especially black bears as they emerge from their winter dens hungry and in search of an easy meal. During this time of increased activity, it is important for Virginia residents to secure all potential food sources to reduce bear encounters in their neighborhoods and near their homes.

Natural foods can be scarce during the early spring, so bears often look for easy food sources. Some of which could include your garbage, compost pile, barbeque grills, birdseed and pet food stored outside. Keeping these items secured will encourage a bear to move along and continue foraging for natural foods.

Bears are naturally cautious of humans, but they can overcome their wariness if people reward them with food; either intentionally by placing food out or unintentionally by not securing garbage, pet food, or other food sources.

Take the following steps to avoid attracting black bears near your residence:

  • Secure Garbage: Keep in a locked shed or inside until collected or use a bear resistant container.
  • Take down birdfeeders. For tips on attracting birds, not bears visit the BearWise webpage.
  • Secure pet and/or livestock feed in bear resistant containers or inside locked sheds.
  • Clean up porches/decks: Clean grills, remove any potential food sources, and remember a screened-in porch is not a “secure” storage area from a bear’s point of view.
  • Never leave food, trash, or pet/livestock feed inside your vehicle.

In 2023, nearly 2,500 bear conflict calls were recorded by the Wildlife Conflict Helpline. The vast majority of those calls involved unsecured trash (40%) and/or birdfeeders (13%). By following the steps outlined above, these common complaint types can be reduced and foster coexistence between people and bears.

In addition to adult bears being more active this time of year, it’s also the time when females with cubs begin to emerge from their winter den and start exploring the landscape. During this time, bear cubs can become separated from their mothers for short periods of time. In almost all instances no intervention is necessary, and the cubs should be left alone.

When a female bear with cubs perceives a threat, whether due to barking dogs, people in the area, or otherwise, she will often “tree” her cubs. Although cubs may still be very small (normally weighing 5 lbs or less), they are adept climbers! The cubs will scamper high into the treetops and await guidance from their mother on when it is safe to come back down. The female will often leave the area, circling back periodically to check for when she feels the area is secure. If you see cubs in a tree and no female in the area, you should leave the area immediately. The female will return (often at night) and call the cubs back down when she feels there is no immediate threat to her or the cubs. Keeping the area free of disturbance (humans and particularly dogs) is critical for the female to be able to return and collect her cubs.

Never attempt to handle or capture a black bear cub found on your property. If the cub has a visible injury, is lethargic, or has been seen in the same location for more than 24 hours, please contact the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 1-855-571-9003.

For more information on black bears in Virginia, please visit the DWR website and learn how you can do your part to keep bears wild.

Citizens can contact the Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 1-855-571-9003 to report any concerns about bears in their area and receive additional advice on preventing and mitigating wildlife conflicts.