Human-Bear Conflicts
Today, Kentucky is home to a growing
bear population that offers widespread viewing opportunities in the wild. While
the core population is concentrated along the Pine, Cumberland, and Black
Mountain areas, bears may now be found throughout the eastern portions of the
Commonwealth. As numbers continue to expand, however, human-bear interactions
have become commonplace and it is necessary that residents and visitors learn to
live in bear country.
Data collected by the Kentucky
Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) clearly illustrate that most
conflicts are the result of intentional feeding, or access to other
human-related sources such as garbage,
pet food,
livestock feed, and birdfeeders.
Following these simple guidelines
will enable you to minimize human-bear conflicts and help the KDFWR better
manage our growing bear population. Residents and visitors to Kentucky need to
be responsible so negative behaviors in bears are not encouraged. Doing so will
not only prevent nuisance problems for you and your neighbors, but will
ultimately maintain the integrity of our bear population by keeping it wild.
Bear Observation Report Map, 2008
Black bear Nuisance Complaints
