Cory Bennet, of Tom's River, New Jersey, took it with a muzzleloader on Oct. 15. This is second in size only to a bear that was found dead in Utah. Its largest annual population increase was 1.5% between 2019 and 2020. Northcentral (1,588): Lycoming, 283; Clinton, 267; Tioga, 261; Potter 173; Centre, 144; McKean, 125; Clearfield, 103; Elk, 100; Cameron, 78; and Union, 54. 88% of the fatal attacks carried out by black bears on humans between 1960 and 2009 were predatory and not defensive in nature and were carried out by lone male bears. In 1983, hunters first harvested more than 1,529 bears in Pennsylvania. The normal black bears weight range is from 140 to 400 pounds. Although most Pennsylvania bears are black, a small percentage of them are cinnamon-colored. Bears can also serve as an indicator of ecological health, a symbol of the wilderness, and a source of revenue. Field studies from across the United States, including Pennsylvania, show that predators - notably coyotes, bears, and bobcats - prey on white-tailed deer. Breeding bears are also present on the Tug Hill Plateau in Lewis and Oswego Counties, although bear abundance is considered fairly low at this time. Most of these consist of mixed hardwood forests with blackberries and blueberries growing beneath the forest canopy. The state has breeding populations in the western counties of Garrett, Allegany, Frederick, and Washington. The good news is that, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, there were no fatal attacks in the state in the last century. Human population at last census: 101,407 Berks County 2017 bear kill: 7 2016 bear kill: 2 Square miles: 866 Human population at last census: 411,442 Lebanon County 2017 bear kill: 8. The latest county preliminary harvest totals for all seasons are: Northwest (535): Warren, 142; Venango, 79; Forest, 66; Jefferson, 65; Clarion, 61; Crawford, 56; Butler, 44; Erie, 15; and Mercer, 7. Large metropolitan regions and agricultural areas, such as the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania and parts of the western border, do not have enough forest habitat, therefore bears spotted there are primarily temporary. The retrieval took longer than the hunt. Here are the details on how to survive an encounter with a bear:http://www.pennlive.com/pa-sportsman/2016/04/could_you_survive_a_pennsylvan.html. The length and timing of hunting seasons is set such that populations with greater human-bear conflicts are reduced or stabilized while areas with few conflicts are allowed to increase. Cory Bennet, of Tom's River, New Jersey, took it with a muzzleloader on Oct. 15. However, areas that are largely agricultural or urban such as the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania and also parts of the western border, lack the forest cover that bears need. A record number of bear licenses were sold in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The latest county preliminary harvest totals for all seasons are: Northwest (535): Warren, 142; Venango, 79; Forest, 66; Jefferson, 65; Clarion, 61; Crawford, 56; Butler, 44; Erie, 15; and Mercer, 7. The Census Bureaus Population Estimates Program data by county includes details like counts by age, race, or ethnicity and goes back for decades. The "Bucket Bear" of Perry Township, Clarion County, is free. They now cover more than three-quarters of the state, with sightings reported in every county. The following counties topped the state for most bears taken in the 2022 season. He was hunting Saturday in Stewart Township. The current bear population across Pennsylvania is estimated at 16,268 by the commission. You might get bears that get fed a few times from people at a campground and then all of a sudden that bear is approaching every other person that visits that campground, Carrollo said. These are Philadelphia County, which is coterminous with the city of Philadelphia and has a population of 1,574,765 (even though it is the second smallest county in the state by land area), and Allegheny County, with its 1,227,553 residents. Quite a number of counties have had negative population growth: Cameron County, the least populous in the state, has just 4,683 residents and its population has decreased by 7.69% since the last census, while the larger Cambria County's population has reduced to 134,313, representing a 6.37% decrease. You Should clean your barbecue grill after every use and store it inside. This underestimate is, effectively, zero for 2010 and grows each year to reach 1% by 2020. Keep up with the latest data and most popular content, Vintage 2020 Population Estimates (census.gov), Vintage 2021 Population Estimates (census.gov). Video below: May 2022 - bear spotted near a busy grocery store in Lancaster County. Follow him on Facebook @whipkeyoutdoors. A stable population of bears occurs on the Fort Drum Military Reservation in Jefferson County. Tioga County had the most bears at 153, and Lycoming County hunters found 124 bears. They are agile, able to stand and walk erect on their hind feet, capable climbers and strong swimmers. How big? They were practically decimated into small subpopulations. In January 2016, a PennLive.com writer visited a Pennsylvania bear den occupied by a female bear and her two cubs. Carrollo says hes one of the biggest shes ever tagged well over 300 pounds. And remember that penn's woods is the black bear's woods too. In the most recent report by Pennsylvania Game Commission, more than 16,000 black bears live in Pennsylvania. A: Food availability, or more precisely a diminishing supply of food, is the trigger for black bears - the species running wild across Pennsylvania - to enter the state that we layman call hibernation. A reassessment of the past, present, and future status of bears, their habitat, and demands on the bear resource was completed in 1999. Understand the shifts in demographic trends with these charts visualizing decades of populationdata. They are generally non-aggressive. In 1987 the second largest black bear by Boone and Crocket measurements was killed by a poacher in Lycoming County. As of 2018, both of these counties have grown their populations since the last census, with Philadelphia County increasing by 3.04% and Allegheny County by a more modest 0.30%. In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017-2021: 62.9%: In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017-2021: 58.8%: Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000) 28,849,427: Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000) 116,621,778 A dramatic growth has provided more opportunities for people to see bears, which is an experience many treasure, and bear hunting has greatly improved. As of the 2020 census, the population was 325,594, making it the . When on all fours, black bears stand around three feet tall, and five to seven feet tall when standing erect. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games with friends. In 2014, 3,366 bears were harvested in 56 counties. Take a look at an effort to understand the mange epidemic in Pennsylvania bears:http://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2018/05/mange_epidemic_in_pennsylvania.html. The tags will help the Pa. Game Commission identify this bear if it is recaptured and help estimate the states bear population. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990). It weighed 875 pounds. Wildlife officials can then assume that the percentage of tagged bears will be roughly the same in the harvested bears as it is with the total population. In Pennsylvania, intentionally feeding bears is illegal. The male bruin was killed early in the morning on Sunday, November 12, while attempting to cross Interstate 78 near Lenhartsville in Berks County. For population by age, USAFacts grouped people ages 04 in different ways depending on the census. Clinton County: 113 bears. If a bear gets used to eating human food, it can become a nuisance. lack bears are extremely docile, she says. The race and ethnicity of the population in Bear Creek can be very important for social research, economics, and marketing to a multi-culturial society. How many? Seehereon how to recognize a predatory bear and what to do if you encounter one. The additional days and increased number of bear hunters appear to have made a significant difference. The heaviest black bear ever harvested came from Pike County, Pennsylvania. es a really good-looking bear, she says, before offering something like a scouting report: fantastic body weight, no bony protrusions indicating malnourishment, no signs of mange, a great looking coat of black fur. That changed after the state placed limits on bear hunting. Population Growth of Black Bears Black Bear numbers have increased substantially in Pennsylvania, from around 4,000 in the 1970s to around 18,000 today. The bruin is believed to be 14 years old as the Game Commission had captured the bear in 2016 and placed an ear tag on it. Adults typically average around 200 pounds, with males often weighing more than twice as much as females. Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. The snow really helped us out, and Im really thankful for my harvest, he said. In 2018, hunters took a total of 3,153 bears - Pennsylvania's 11th best bear harvest. Seven bears from Potter, Bedford, Clearfield, Clinton, Luzerne, Centre and Monroe counties were heavier than 600 pounds. According to Emily Carrollo, who is the Pennsylvania Game Commissions black bear biologist, the state trapped, tagged, tattooed, and released around 700 black bears last year in 2021 in its yearly program. The problem is people, especially those who try to feed the animals. A black bear chased a dog into a Perry County home in 2011 and then attacked and injured the couple . Black bears are generally a non-aggressive species of bear. Monroe County: 114 bears. Don't invest in fancy cable and pulley arrangements. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Even though they are named black bears, their colors can vary from black, blue-grey, cinnamon, brown, blue-black, and on infrequent occasions, a black bear can even be white. In addition to the bears harvested by hunters, the Game Commission has received reports that 639additional black bears were killed this year by motorists. Black bears gain weight in the late summer and fall in preparation for their winter hibernation. Deer hunters are more likely to look for game in areas that traditional bear hunters overlook, such as small woodlots or areas adjacent to homes. In the 1970s, there were fewer than 5,000. Special Requests to Use State Game Lands Information, Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP). Pennsylvania's population increased 7 out of the 11 years between year 2010 and year 2021. In the bed is a young black bear which Rob shot earlier that morning near the Shrader family camp in Clinton County. The extended season overlapping with deer season begins Saturday in limited parts of the state. Some people take for granted that they dont need to be cautious around them. Additionally, when you surprise a black bear, they are much more likely to run away than to come toward you. On Nov. 22, a 746-pound bear was taken with a rifle in Barrett Township, Monroe County. fighting with other males because its breeding season, Carrollo says. Moreover, some nuisance bears live in areas that receive little hunting pressure, which is one reason why the extended season was placed within the deer season. They are the most common and well-known bears native to North America. Those are from fighting with other males because its breeding season, Carrollo says. The next numbers will be hypotheticals. The bears, if left alone, arent dangerous. See, The average size of home ranges for adult male bears in Pennsylvania is 20 square miles, while the average size for females is 6 to 8 square miles See. Finally, to lower bear numbers, beginning in 2002, bear hunting season in select areas of the state has been lengthened to include the first week of firearms deer season. Giving animals their space and giving them the ability to remove themselves from the scenario if they want to get out of it is the most important thing, she says. Black bear in Pennsylvania: How old? In 2002, 443 bears were taken from the Pike-Monroe-Carbon county area. Additionally, theyre almost always perpetrated by young adult males in the late summer or fall. Black bears lack the shoulder hump that brown bears or grizzly bears have. The estimate years differ from the base 2010 decennial census; underestimates will be resolved in 2023 when the Census Bureau releases its 2010-2020 intercensal estimates. The first one was recorded in New Jersey in the fall of 2014, near the state line with Pennsylvania. Bear numbers in Pennsylvania were once dangerously low. In WMUs, 1B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A,4B,4C,4D,4E and 5A, bear season runs Nov. 26-Dec. 3. Although they have become common in many new areas of the state where they. See. We will update this experience, including the 2010-2019 estimates, when the Bureau releases county-level 20102020 intercensal estimates by age, sex, race, and ethnicity. Southwest (123): Somerset, 35 (57); Armstrong, 32 (26); Indiana, 27 (31); Fayette, 15 (39); Cambria, 9 (16); Westmoreland, 4 (14); and Greene, 1 (0). Property damage, the likelihood of serious human injury, personnel resources within the Game Commission who respond to conflicts, and public tolerance for further growth of the bear population all have been impacted by the increase in bears. Heres a look at the rambling bears of Pennsylvania: http://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2017/06/bears_on_move_across_pennsylva.html, If you do run into a bear, here's how to survive. Another seven were taken in the early season," a statement from the game commission said. Black bears, of which there are an estimated 20,000 in Pennsylvania, are roaming across nearly all the state. Black bears walk in a shuffling, flat-footed way, but can run as fast as 30 miles per hour over short distances. Pennsylvania has a large, thriving bear population. Inside, the light makes visible the head of a large black bear long brown snout, round teddy-bear ears, dark eyes. Other large bears taken in the 2019 bear general and extended bear seasons all taken with a rifle include: a 747-pound male taken in Wright Township, Luzerne County, by J. Kripp Jr., of Mountaintop; a 743-pound male taken in Greene Township, Pike County, by Matthew J. Erdie Jr., of Nazareth; a 696-pound male taken in Penn Forest Township, Carbon County, by Brian J. Borosh, of Jim Thorpe; a 661-pound male taken in Lake Township, Wayne County, by Michael A. Biduck II, of West Abington; a 658-pound male taken in Hopewell Township, Huntingdon County, by Michael A. Collins, of Altoona; a 657-pound male taken in Franklin Township, Columbia County, by Nicholas A. Podgurski, of Elysburg; a 656-pound male taken in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, by Dale J. Kobal, of Hunlock Creek; a 623-pound male taken in Beech Creek Township, Clinton County, by Mikael J. Catanese, of Sewickley; and a 620-pound male taken in Miles Township, Centre County, by Reuben Kennel, of Turbotville. This page features files containing county population totals and components of change for years 2020 to 2022. Southeast (179): Schuylkill, 75; Dauphin, 66; Northampton, 15; Lebanon, 2; Berks, 17; and Lehigh, 4. Pennsylvania hunters harvested more than 3,000 bears in the 2022 hunting seasons, including three that topped 700 pounds, according to numbers released last week by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.Video above: From the WGAL archives, bears and bird feeders.The total number of bears taken was 3,170, which was down from the 2021 total of 3,621. Bear habitat in Pennsylvania is typically mixed hardwood forests. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Ken Nichols of Lemont Furnace, Fayette County, killed his first bear about 50 yards away with two other bears while hunting Saturday in Forbes State Forest. Some black bears have a V-shaped white patch on their chest. ROME (AP) Authorities in northern Italy have captured a bear that fatally mauled a runner and became the focus of a battle over what to do with Italy's growing brown bear population. Photo: Reid R. Frazier / The Allegheny Front, Emily Carrollo prepares for tagging and taking measurements and samples from a captured black bear. The black bear's scientific name is Ursus americanus, which means "American bear." And although there are three species of bears in North America, many wonder if there are bears in Pennsylvania.In 2015, the population of bears in the state was around 20,000. Its more tender.. Prime bear habitat is abundant in Pennsylvania. Potter leads the way with 179 points, Pike comes in second with 167 points, Tioga comes in third with 165 . What triggers hibernation in Pennsylvania black bears? Take a look at the county-by-county statistics on Pennsylvania's bear harvest:http://www.pennlive.com/pa-sportsman/2017/11/wheres_the_best_bear_hunting_i.html. 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