Bear Spied In Columbia, Ellicott City Eventually Captured, Relocated

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A bear was spied lumbering across three counties late last week, including in Columbia and Ellicott City.

The Maryland DNR told WMAR it believed the bear was less than 2 years old.

"I was at the intersection of Dobbin Road and Snowden River Parkway right by Target, PNC, driving in my car, and out of the corner of my eye I saw this little black bear, and I was like, 'Am I crazy?' I stopped and I took a picture of him, he was so cute, he was just kind of prancing, and he went behind the PNC and Target, and he was so cute," Annie Weinschenk, a Columbia resident, told WMAR.

Annie Hudson and her neighbors told WMAR a bear was in an Ellicott City neighborhood last Tuesday.

"My friends are texting me because my dogs are on electric fences, and they're outside all the time," Hudson said. "They're like, 'Bring the babies in!' They don't want them to get eaten by a bear."

The bear roamed around Baltimore and Howard counties before eventually scrambling up a tree Memorial Day in the Langley Park area of Prince George's County where it was safely captured.

Prince George's County police officers posted on social media that residents were not to approach the bear and to take any pets and food inside. It was last seen in the 8300 block of Tahona Drive around 12:30 p.m. Monday. Anyone who spied the bear was to contact the Maryland DNR. The bear eventually was tracked down, captured and relocated to a safer area with the help of Paramedic Engine 844 from Chillum, the police and the DNR. They were able to tranquilize and remove the bear from the tree. It was taken to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.

In Maryland, black bears are located primarily in Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Fredrick counties, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Populations are highest in Garrett and Allegany counties, with bear numbers rising in the remaining areas. In the spring, black bears are often sighted in other areas of the state. There are an estimated 2,000 bears in Maryland, according to the DNR. Once hibernation season ends, juvenile black bears, particularly male ones, often will travel across the state in search of new territories to claim and food sources. This typically happens from May to July and again in October and November, in preparation for hibernation.

If a bear comes into your yard, the Maryland DNR states to not panic, do not shoot at it and do not approach it. Instead, residents should:

• Back away slowly.
• Go inside and wait for the bear to leave.
• Most bears fear people and will leave when they see you.
• If a bear woofs, snaps its jaws, slaps the ground or brush, or bluff charges - you are too close.
• Learn to tolerate bears. Many bears are killed or injured when not causing problems.

If a bear refuses to leave:

• Be sure you have allowed the bear an escape route.
• Make loud noises to scare it away.

If a bear is treed:

• Leave it alone. The bear will usually go away when it feels safe.
• Have people leave the area.
• Remove your dog from the area.

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