The Alpine Police Department reported a sighting of a black bear in the vicinity of South 11th Street on July 30. Residents are advised to keep their distance and avoid approaching the bear.
The sighting recalls a similar incident a few years ago when a black bear was spotted near residences in the area of East Marfa and 3rd Street. On that occasion, the bear moved to a tree near East Fort Davis and 4th Street, where Alpine Police and Texas Parks and Wildlife monitored its movements.
While the bear did not pose an immediate threat, authorities worked on relocating it and asked residents to steer clear of the area. Eventually, the bear descended from the tree and left the town heading north.
To prevent encounters with black bears, residents should ensure that trash cans are inaccessible, compost piles are enclosed, and bird feeders are set up away from the house. Bears are attracted to food sources like garbage, pet food, and barbecue grills. By managing these attractants, communities can reduce the likelihood of bear visits.
In case of an encounter with a black bear, it is important to stay calm. Most bears are more afraid of humans and will leave if they detect people. If a bear does not leave, making noise and appearing larger can help scare it away. In rare instances of a bear attack, fighting back is recommended.
Image Credit TPWD biologist Chase McCrory. The bear pictured is not the bear discussed above.
