Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists have confirmed multiple reports of a black bear active in neighborhoods south of Alpine, prompting an urgent reminder for residents to secure potential food sources around their homes and properties.
Wildlife officials warn that unsecured attractants—such as pet food, livestock feed, garbage, compost, and bird feeders—can encourage bears to associate neighborhoods with easy meals, increasing the risk of human-bear conflicts.
TPWD recommendations include:
- Move livestock and pet feed inside sturdy buildings or into bear-resistant containers.
- Reduce chicken feed and secure poultry or small livestock, especially at night.
- Report any depredation of domestic animals to TPWD immediately.
If a bear is seen near a residence, residents should make loud noises from a safe distance—such as shouting, banging pots, honking a horn, or setting off a car alarm—to scare the bear away. Once it leaves, all attractants should be removed or secured, and neighbors should be informed to do the same.
Sightings can be reported directly to a TPWD biologist (Find contact) or a Texas Game Warden (Warden directory).
For more information on coexisting safely with black bears, TPWD encourages residents to review BearWise safety tips at bearwise.org.
