A one-year-old black bear seen wandering through parts of Central Maryland—including Pikesville, Randallstown, Columbia and Ellicott City—was safely captured and relocated after making its way to a tree in the Langley Park area.
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the bear climbed a tree and drew a large crowd before being safely sedated and removed. The bear was tagged with a collar to support a University of Maryland study and has since been relocated to a more suitable, undisclosed location.
The bear was likely dispersing, searching for a new home, which is typical behavior for young black bears in the spring and early summer.
Seeing a black bear in Montgomery County is unusual but not unheard of. Seasonal movement can occasionally bring bears into more populated areas.
If you see a bear:
- Stay calm. Do not approach, feed or try to scare the bear.
- Speak in a firm voice to make the bear aware of your presence.
- Give the bear plenty of space to leave on its own.
- Take people and pets indoors.
- Report emergencies to DNR at 1-410-260-8888.
Intentional feeding of bears is illegal in Maryland and can lead to dangerous situations for both people and wildlife.
For more information about bear behavior and safety tips, visit dnr.maryland.gov.
