Bear encounter leaves Troutville woman shaken

Connie Tice of Troutville had a close encounter last night, August 14. A close encounter of the bruin kind. A large bear challenged her on her side porch. Before her husband Kevin went to work last night ,she set a bag of trash out by the door for him to carry to work. After short bit, she heard something. This is how she described it in a message soon thereafter to the Botetourt Bee.

“I was washing dishes and heard something. I went to the door, without turning on the light, I clapped my hands. I noticed that the bag was now about 3 feet from where I had sat it and then I saw it moving with something in it. I was now outside the door and all of a sudden, a large black bear stood up on his hind legs and growled a large growl. I was less than 10 feet from it. I stepped back in and I fell over the threshold.”

Thankfully Tice was not hurt. She was able to get the door closed. It was a first time for the family to have a bear visit. TheTice’s live about a quarter mile north of the Brughs Mill Rd and Rt. 11 intersection on Lee Highway. They called the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Department and a deputy responded, but by the time he got there the bear was gone.

Tice is understandably afraid to go outside.  More importantly, she wants her neighborhood to know the bear is around. Once a bear finds food, he will likely return.

Here are some tips from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on handling a bear visitor.  https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/black-bear-factsheet.pdf

• Remove the bird feeders. It is best not to put out food for birds from April–November. Instead, plant native seed-bearing plants or use water features to attract birds to your home.
• Secure your garbage. Store garbage indoors, in a shed or garage, or in a bear-proof container. Put garbage out on the morning of pickup, not the night before, or take it to the dump frequently.
• Pick up pet food. Feed pets only what they will eat in a single feeding or feed them indoors. Remove all uneaten food. Do not leave food out overnight.
• Do not put meat scraps in the compost pile. Keep compost away from house.
• Pick up and remove ripe fruit from fruit trees and surrounding grounds.
• Clean the grill often. Do not dump drippings in your yard. Run the grill an extra 5 minutes to burn off grease.
• Install electric fencing to protect beehives, dumpsters, gardens, compost piles, or other potential food sources.
• Don’t store food, freezers, refrigerators, or trash on porches.
• Use harassment techniques in conjunction with removing the attractant to get the bear to move off your property. Paintballs are a great tool for hazing. They are nonlethal, won’t harm the bear if shot at the rump, but are painful enough to get the bear moving away from homes.
• Talk to your neighbors. Make sure your neighbors and community administrators are aware of the ways to prevent bears from causing problems.
• Learn about black bears!