Bear Spotted In Prince George's County: Report

FORT WASHINGTON, MD -- Beware if you're out and about in the Fort Washington area: a bear has been spotted wandering through neighborhoods, according to a report.

NBC 4's Darcy Spencer tweeted late Sunday night that the bear had been seen "crossing streets and rummaging through yards."

Video is embedded below.

At 11- A bear is making rounds in Fort Washington in Prince George’s County. Cell phone video captures him crossing streets and rummaging through yards. Many want to know how he ended up here. pic.twitter.com/2laDZu9JeA
— Darcy Spencer (@darcyspencer) June 17, 2019

Black bears in Maryland are concentrated in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett and Washington counties. They typically make dens in wooded areas. Later in the spring and summer, year-old male bears tend to wander into populous areas looking for a chance to establish their territory, which in past years has led to bears hanging out on the NIH campus in Bethesda, and roaming golf courses.

Trash and bird feeders are the most common items that lure bears to houses, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources says. Pet food, charcoal grills, fruit trees and gardens may also attract bears. Once a bear finds food around your home it will likely return, the DNR says.

“Following viewing etiquette is the first step to avoiding an encounter with a bear that could escalate into an attack. Keeping your distance and not surprising bears are some of the most important things you can do,” the National Park Service says on its website. “Most bears will avoid humans if they hear them coming. Pay attention to your surroundings and make a special effort to be noticeable if you are in an area with known bear activity or a good food source, such as berry bushes.”

Keeping Bears Away From Homes and Cabins

To minimize bear problems on your property:

• Reduce garbage odors. Rinse food cans and wrappers before disposal.
• Compost vegetable scraps properly away from house.
• Keep meat scraps in the freezer until garbage pickup day.
• Wash garbage cans regularly and use lime to cut odors.
• Keep garbage cans in a bear-proof container or in an enclosed building until trash pickup.
• Remove bird feeders in the spring. If you persist in feeding during summer, remove seed, suet and hummingbird feeders at night.
• Keep pet food inside.
• Keep barbecue grills and picnic tables clean.
• Use an energized fence to keep bears out of beehives, sweet corn, fruit trees and berry patches. (An energized fence is powered by a low-impedance, high –voltage energizer that provides a short-duration, high-energy impulse.)
• Barking dogs, bright lights and noisemakers will sometimes discourage bears from coming into an area.

Additional reporting by Deb Belt/Patch