West Virginia’s diverse landscapes are home to a thriving wildlife population, including bears. Only one type of bear makes its home in the Mountain State. Understanding this specific bear and its behaviors is valuable for anyone exploring West Virginia’s natural beauty or living within its wild spaces.
West Virginia’s Sole Bear Species
The American Black Bear ( Ursus americanus ) is the only bear species found in West Virginia. Though named “black,” their fur can range from black to brown, cinnamon, or bluish-gray. In West Virginia, most are uniformly black, sometimes with a white chest marking.
Adult black bears are medium-sized, standing two to three feet high at the shoulder and measuring four to seven feet from nose to tail. Males are larger than females, commonly weighing 150 to 450 pounds, though some West Virginia males have exceeded 600 pounds. Females weigh 100 to 300 pounds. They possess a broad skull, small eyes, rounded ears, and non-retractable claws.
Bear Habitats and Behavior
American Black Bears inhabit forested and mountainous regions across West Virginia. They are found in all 55 counties, with concentrations highest in rugged mountains and dense forests. Bears prefer areas with thick vegetation, providing both cover and food.
Black bears are omnivores, consuming both plants and animals. Their food choices vary significantly with the seasons, including berries, nuts, grasses, roots, insects, fish, small mammals, and carrion. While active during the day, black bears are often crepuscular, most active during early morning and evening hours. During colder months, bears enter a state of torpor, or denning, relying on fat reserves accumulated in the fall. This period begins between October and January, with bears emerging from dens in the spring.
Living Safely Alongside Bears
As West Virginia’s black bear population has expanded, human-bear encounters have become more common. Preventing these involves managing food sources, as bears are drawn to easily accessible food. Securing trash in bear-resistant containers, removing bird feeders, and never leaving pet food outdoors deter bears from residential areas. Cleaning grills after each use and storing them securely eliminates attractants.
If you encounter a bear, remain calm. Never approach a bear, and avoid running, as this can trigger a chase response. Instead, back away slowly while speaking calmly and making yourself known. Give the bear a clear escape route. In the rare event of an attack, fight back aggressively.
When hiking or camping in bear country, make noise periodically to avoid surprising a bear, keep dogs leashed, and store all food and scented items in bear-resistant containers or suspended at least ten feet above the ground.