Within the last two weeks, Bellingham residents have reported seeing black bears, cougars and bobcats in their yards or public areas. But officials say the sightings are normal for this time of year.
Jordan Majocha, 28, lives in the Cordata neighborhood. He said an adult black bear has visited his family’s backyard twice: once on June 20 and again on July 3. Both occurred during daylight hours.
“I was doing some morning yoga out in our back patio/lawn area within our condo complex with my dog when she suddenly got alert, looking out into the wooded area,” Majocha recalled. “A couple minutes later in the corner of my eye I noticed the bear walking directly towards me!”
After securing himself and his dog in their home, Majocha managed to take a video of the bear, only feet away on the back porch.
Bobcat and cougar sightings have also been abundant. Gwen McEwen is president of the homeowner’s association in her Cordata neighborhood and has had to post signs reminding residents to be mindful of wildlife. Members of the community have reported seeing both a bear and cougar in recent weeks.
Bridget Mire, coastal region communications specialist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said it’s completely normal to see urban wildlife, especially in warmer months. Large animals usually don’t pose a threat to people, but problems can arise if they find steady food sources in the form of garbage and bait.
“Black bears in particular are not aggressive. Their natural instinct is to want to get away from people,” Mire said. “But if they get accustomed to food sources that are provided by people, they can get too comfortable — and that can make them dangerous. That can pose a public safety issue, and then we would have to look at removing that bear.”
Wild animals that lose their fear of people are much more likely to be provoked into attacking humans or pets. It also puts the animal itself in greater danger of being hit by a car or having to be relocated or killed by WDFW.
Mire said the best way for people living alongside wildlife to protect both themselves and the animals is to avoid feeding them: whether that be intentionally placing bait or indirectly by leaving out trash.
“Some people intentionally feed deer and other wildlife, and they mean well,” Mire said. “… But they’re actually hurting them. A lot of things that people feed deer are not part of their natural diet, and so the food that people are giving them, like fruit and corn and grains, can cause serious health problems … it might even kill them.”
Feeding deer can also attract predators like cougars, leading to an unsafe situation all around.
If you do see a large animal like a bear or cougar in your yard, do not approach the animal. Instead, slowly retreat to a safe place, secure any pets and report the sighting to WDFW. Here are some additional tips you can follow to minimize the risks to you, your pets and wildlife:
- Remove bird feeders, especially during spring through fall
- Secure chicken coops and beehives
- Pick fruit trees
- Feed your pets inside
- Invest in a bear-resistant garbage can (but remember there’s no such thing as a bearproof garbage can)
WDFW also has several resources online on how to live peacefully and respectfully alongside wildlife. Mire offers one last piece of advice:
“Just keep a safe distance from all wildlife. Make sure to give them plenty of space and respect, and don’t feed them or approach them. That’ll keep everybody safe and happy.”
Ben Long is an environmental/science reporter, placed at CDN through the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mass Media Fellowship. Reach him at benlong@cascadiadaily.com.
