Clearfield, PA — With June and July being mating season for black bears, the PA Game commission is warning you to enjoy bears from a distance and to not approach them.
Brian Witherite, State Game Warden for the PA Game Commission, said you’re most likely to see bears in the early morning throughout the afternoon.
"They’re just going to be bumping around pursuing what nature has them doing," he said.
Witherite said bears become an issue for agriculture as they’re attracted to cornfields giving them a good source of protein.
"Mid to late august when the corn starts transitioning and its growing, it's tall and the ears are coming their full development so that's when our crop complaint usually originate," said Witherite.
Though Witherite said black bears are the least aggressive type of bear but they’re still fast and strong with a keen sense of smell.
"It’s good to maybe announce yourself, some people use whistle some people yell. They don’t want a conflict with you they try to avoid you."
He suggests you to not leave trash outside of your house days before trash day and to remove any fold source like bird seed during the nighttime.
Witherite also warns you that feeding bears intentionally is a crime that could compromise your health and the bear’s.
"If the behavior persists we will issue a no traffic citation for feeding black bears intentionally," he said.
If black bears are an issue in your neighborhood you’re asked to contact the PA Game Commission.
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