Blacksburg, VA
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Bears
They’re beautiful, majestic, furry creatures, but when human-related foods become available to bears, problems may occur. In Blacksburg and Montgomery County we’re fortunate to be nestled among the mountains and their native flora and fauna, including black bears. The question is, how can we live in harmony while protecting our properties and the well-being of these animals?
In Virginia, it is illegal to feed bears on public or private land. Unfortunately, bears can be attracted to residential property through inadvertent feeding (bird feeders, pet food, and trash cans). But with some simple steps, you can reduce the chances of bears making repeated visits to your neighborhood or property.
- Do not feed bears.
- Secure your garbage in bear-resistant trash cans or store it in a secure building.
- Remove bird feeders if a bear is reported to be in the area.
- Do not leave pet food outdoors.
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Make sure your neighbors are following the same recommendations.
The following website is a great resource to help you learn more about black bears and get in-depth information about how to keep from attracting bears to your neighborhood.
https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/bear/
We live in bear country, so it is important for us to learn the facts about black bears and know what we can do to prevent conflicts. In this way we can help keep bears wild and coexist in this beautiful area for generations to come.
Bear-resistant Trash Carts
With the help of matching funding from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the town purchases bear-resistant trash carts on an annual basis. Residents experiencing frequent bear activity may apply for these carts as supply allows. Priority will be given to residents who do not have a garage or an accessory storage building that provides protective storage for their trash carts.
The bear-resistant trash carts distributed to residents will remain the property of the Town of Blacksburg and a fee of $138.43 will apply. Residents may sign up for a six-month payment plan to pay this fee and there is a Fee Waiver process for low-income residents. These bear-resistant trash carts will be distributed on a first come first served basis while supplies last. Additional purchases of these bear-resistant trash carts by the town will be subject to available funding. Questions on the program may be addressed to the Public Works Department Office of Solid Waste Management at 540-443-1212.
Application for Bear Resistant Trash Carts
Deer
Feeding deer is illegal year-round in Montgomery County. It also increases the risk of disease transmission including Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), causes deer to lose their natural fear of humans, and leads to a higher likelihood of dangerous encounters and serious traffic accidents.
- When many deer are using a feeding area, the possibility of spreading and maintaining disease among animals is increased. Attracting deer to feeding sites has been linked to the spread of tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD) in some states.
- Feeding wildlife, especially deer, can cause them to lose their natural fear of humans, a situation that can be dangerous to both people and animals.
- Feeding can concentrate deer around human civilization and infrastructure, leading to increased human-deer conflict like residential plant damage and deer-vehicle collisions.
- Feeding can harm or kill deer. In winter, a deer is well adapted to survive by eating the foods provided by Mother Nature which are typically of poor nutritional quality and utilize the fat stores accumulated in late summer and early fall. A rapid change in a deer’s diet can leave the animal unable to digest the new food and can have a deadly outcome from rumen acidosis or bloat.
- Feeding deer can increase their survival and reproductive output, causing local deer populations to increase beyond what the local habitat can support. Too many deer can cause habitat damage, harming the long-term survival of both deer and other wildlife in the area that depend upon that habitat.
Help keep the “wild” in wildlife — Don’t Feed the Deer!
Visit the Department of Wildlife Resources website for more information:
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