FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — As bear activity increases across national parks and public lands in West Virginia this spring and summer, state and federal wildlife officials are urging visitors to take extra precautions while hiking, camping, and exploring the Mountain State’s forests.
The National Park Service recently issued a nationwide reminder encouraging visitors to practice bear safety following several recent bear incidents in parks across the country. Officials say spring and early summer are periods of increased black bear activity as bears emerge from winter dens, search for food, and move through the habitat with cubs.
“National parks are wild places, and wildlife safety is visitor safety,” said Jessica Bowron, a spokesperson for the park service. “Simple actions, like giving bears space, securing food, and knowing what to do before you enter bear country, can protect visitors and bears.”
In West Virginia, black bears are commonly found throughout several national park sites, including Bluestone National Scenic River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and portions of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.
Black bear encounters increase during spring and early summer
Wildlife experts say black bear encounters in West Virginia typically increase in May and June as juvenile bears venture out on their own and adult bears search for food and mates.
According to Colin Carpenter, a biologist with the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, spring and early summer are historically the busiest seasons for human-bear conflicts in the state.
“May and June are peak months for human-bear conflicts,” Carpenter said. “But now through fall, food will be more abundant, especially berries, allowing them to pack on energy for winter.”
As berry crops and natural food sources become more available later in the summer, officials say black bear encounters with humans generally begin to decrease.
Black bears are the only species of bear found in West Virginia, and wildlife officials say the animals are typically less aggressive toward humans than grizzly bears or polar bears and usually prefer to avoid people altogether.
Still, experts warn that bears can become dangerous if they are surprised, cornered, or attracted to human food.
Outdoor writer and longtime hiker Levi Moore says that despite an increasing bear population, encounters remain relatively uncommon for many hikers.
“The bear population has been increasing here, it’s true, but I’ve hiked thousands of miles in the state and have never seen one,” Moore wrote. “I wouldn’t let the fear of meeting a bear dissuade me from enjoying the outdoors.”
Moore also noted that no fatal black bear attack has ever been confirmed in West Virginia.
National Park Service Shares Bear Safety Tips
According to wildlife experts, understanding black bear behavior is one of the most important steps hikers and campers can take before entering West Virginia national parks and forests.
Black bears generally live in forested areas and venture into populated areas mainly to search for food. Officials say most negative interactions between bears and humans are linked to food sources such as garbage, bird feeders, grills, campsites, and pet food left outdoors.
The National Park Service recommends several core bear safety practices for visitors traveling through bear country in West Virginia national parks.
Those recommendations include never approaching a bear, staying alert on trails, and avoiding headphones while hiking. Officials also encourage visitors to hike in groups whenever possible because groups are noisier and more intimidating to bears than individuals.
Visitors are advised to make noise near streams, dense vegetation, and blind corners where visibility is limited. Properly storing food, trash, and scented items is also critical to reducing black bear encounters in campsites and recreation areas.
The National Park Service further recommends carrying bear spray in areas where it is allowed and advised by park officials.
Wildlife experts strongly warn against running from a black bear.
“If you encounter a bear, stay calm, speak in a steady voice, back away slowly, and do not make sudden movements,” Bowron noted in the park service advisory.
According to guidance shared by the park service, bears may stand on their hind legs or move closer to inspect hikers. Officials say this behavior is often driven by curiosity rather than aggression.
Experts say visitors should continue speaking calmly and slowly create distance without turning their backs on the animal.
The National Park Service also warns hikers not to scream or imitate bear sounds, which could escalate an encounter. Climbing trees is not considered safe because black bears are skilled climbers who can follow people into trees.
Parents hiking in West Virginia national parks are encouraged to pick up small children immediately if a bear is spotted nearby.
Officials also stress the importance of providing bears with an escape route and of never positioning oneself between a mother bear and her cubs.
West Virginia Residents Urged to Remove Bear Attractants
Beyond hiking trails and campgrounds, state wildlife officials say many black bear encounters in West Virginia occur in residential areas where attractants are easily accessible.
State officials recommend securing garbage and recycling containers, removing bird feeders when bears are active, and never leaving pet food outdoors.
Residents are also encouraged to clean grills regularly and notify neighbors when bear activity is reported nearby.
Black bears spend the winter months denning in hollow trees, rock crevices, logs, and beneath uprooted tree masses. Wildlife experts say bears may spend up to six months in dens during winter without eating, drinking, or expelling waste.
Pregnant black bears give birth during the denning season. Mother bears and cubs typically emerge later than other bears, usually in late March or early April.
Young bears generally remain with their mothers for about 18 months before heading out on their own, which contributes to increased black bear sightings in West Virginia during late spring and early summer.
Bear Awareness Important as Summer Tourism Season Begins
As visitation to West Virginia national parks increases during the summer tourism season, federal and state officials say awareness and preparation remain the best ways to prevent dangerous human-bear encounters.
Visitors are encouraged to check park alerts and follow park-specific bear safety rules before entering trails, campgrounds, and backcountry areas.
Wildlife officials say responsible behavior helps protect both visitors and black bears by reducing the likelihood that animals become dependent on human food or engage in dangerous interactions.
For many residents and tourists, black bears remain one of the most recognizable symbols of West Virginia’s forests and mountains. Officials say safely sharing outdoor spaces with wildlife begins with respecting bears, keeping distance, and staying alert in West Virginia national parks where black bear activity is increasing throughout the spring and summer months.