Seen a black bear roaming in Alabama this summer? Wildlife experts say it’s completely normal

Earlier this week, a big mischievous black bear has been seen roaming around  the suburbs south of Birmingham in Shelby County near Oak Mountain State Park and US-280.

Since then, local residents have given the bear a geographically appropriate nickname: “Shelby.”

Thanks to social media, Shelby the bear has become a local celebrity.

Are roaming bears in Alabama safe? What wildlife experts say

Since we started covering this wandering bear story, one question keeps coming up: Are Shelby and bears like him found walking around Alabama communities safe and healthy?

We got in touch with wildlife biologist Marianne Gauldin with the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division and we got an answer… Yes!

Gauldin told us the Department of Conservation regularly receives calls starting around May and into early fall about bears in neighborhoods and urban areas. 

“During the late spring and summer months, young black bears disperse, so it’s completely normal and completely natural to see bears in areas where perhaps you had never seen them before. There is no place in Alabama where we are surprised that you saw a bear.”

Marianne Gauldin, Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division

Wildlife scientists believe there are fewer than 500 bears around the state.

Alabama black bear population growth + dispersal patterns

Alabama’s black bear population has rebounded significantly over the past 70 years, and that growth is driving the dispersal patterns residents are now seeing. 

Their established populations are down around Mobile County in Saraland and in Northeast Alabama near Little River Canyon.

The Birmingham metro area is a prime corridor for young male bears that are dispersing from their established populations, according to Gauldin.

“They tend to head west and then eventually come back into the area and hang on the outskirts of established bear population areas, waiting until they’re old enough to breed. It’s completely normal. They disperse away from their mothers, and then they will end up wandering long distances, more than 100 miles sometimes, and then wait until they’re old enough to breed.”

Marianne Gauldin, Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division

In fact, a young male bear sightings have occurred in Montgomery prompting funny memes by Montgomery Whitewater and even the Department of Conservation!

Black bear safety tips

Now that you know black bears can appear anywhere in Alabama, here are some safety tips from Gauldin.

If you see a bear, don’t approach it. It’s important to make sure the bear sees you as well. Clap your hands, wave your arms, holler at it and make sure that it has an open escape route to safely move in the opposite direction. In other words, don’t corner a bear.

If a bear is in the area, don’t leave pet food, trash, bird and deer feeders, or grills outside. 

“All those things attract a bear. Anything that would attract a raccoon is going to attract a bear.”

Marianne Gauldin, Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division

Want the full list of safety tips? Visit bearwise.org. To report a black bear sighting or emergency in Alabama, contact Operation GameWatch at 800-272-4263.

Want more content like this? Follow Hville Blast on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.