Department of Wildlife Resources urging Virginians to take simple steps to prevent conflicts
Fluvanna Review Staff
As temperatures rise and spring settles in across Virginia, black bears are emerging from their winter dens.
And they are hungry.
Wildlife officials say this seasonal uptick in activity often leads to increased encounters between bears and people, particularly when food sources such as garbage, birdseed, and pet food are left unsecured.
In 2025, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources logged nearly 2,300 bear-related conflict calls statewide. The majority of those incidents involved unsecured trash, accounting for 41% of complaints, followed by bird feeders at 10%.
Backyard chickens and feed, an increasingly common feature in rural and suburban areas, made up nearly 7% of reported conflicts.
Bears are naturally wary of people, but that caution can fade quickly when they find reliable food sources near homes.
“They’re looking for the easiest calories they can find,” wildlife officials note.
To reduce the likelihood of attracting bears, residents are encouraged to take a few basic precautions:
- Garbage should be stored inside or in bear-resistant containers until collection day
- Bird feeders should be taken down during the spring months
- Pet or livestock feed should be secured indoors.
- Grills and outdoor eating areas should also be cleaned thoroughly, as lingering food residue can attract animals.
Officials also caution that vehicles are not safe storage spaces for food or trash, as bears can easily break in if they detect a scent.
Spring also marks the time when female bears emerge with cubs. During this period, cubs may occasionally be seen alone — but that does not mean they have been abandoned.
If a mother bear senses danger, she will often “tree” her cubs while she moves away from the area. The cubs, which are skilled climbers even at a young age, will remain there until she returns, often hours later, or even overnight.
Wildlife officials stress that people should not approach or attempt to help bear cubs.
“If you see cubs in a tree and no adult bear nearby, leave the area,” officials advise. “The mother will return when she feels it is safe.”
Intervention is rarely needed. However, residents should contact the Wildlife Conflict Helpline if a cub appears injured or lethargic, or if it remains in the same location for more than 24 hours.
The helpline can be reached at 1-855-571-9003 for assistance or advice.
By securing food sources and giving wildlife space, officials say residents can help reduce conflicts — and keep bears wild.
