A black bear was spotted inside Rodburn Hollow Park in Rowan County over the Fourth of July weekend. According to Captain Josh Ison of the Morehead Police Department, the sighting is not unusual for this time of year.
Bear Sightings Common in the Area
Captain Ison explained that black bears typically migrate around the area by the Daniel Boone National Forest during this time of year. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife also reports that bear sightings can be common as they move during breeding season and younger bears start out on their own.
When officers respond to a bear sighting, their goal is to keep people safe and give the bear room to move on. Captain Ison advised that if someone encounters a black bear, they should not be alarmed, keep their distance, leave themselves an escape route, and not approach the bear.
To prevent close encounters with bears, Captain Ison recommended that people clean up food, secure trash, and avoid leaving anything out that could attract a bear. If a bear is spotted near a home, park, or campground, people are advised not to approach it and instead contact the Morehead Police or Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.
