CALIFORNIA, Md. — The Maryland black bear hunt lottery is a topic that often draws interest from hunters, hikers, campers and anyone who spends time outdoors. While only a portion of the state has a well-established black bear population, residents across Maryland may encounter bears while visiting parks, forests and mountain communities.
Understanding where black bears live, how the lottery system generally works and how to respond during an encounter can help people enjoy the outdoors safely. Whether you are planning a hiking trip in Western Maryland or simply want to learn more about one of the state’s largest native mammals, knowing the basics can make a difference.
Where Black Bears Live In Maryland
Black bears are most commonly found in the forested mountains of Western Maryland. Large, connected woodlands provide food, shelter and space for bears to travel. Breeding populations remain concentrated in the state’s four westernmost counties — Garrett, Allegany, Washington and Frederick — according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which puts the state’s population at more than 2,000 adult and subadult bears.
Although bears are concentrated in the western part of the state, younger animals can travel long distances while searching for new territory, and DNR says it receives bear sightings and complaints from central and southern counties every year, particularly in spring as young male bears look to establish territory of their own. A bear spotted in another region does not necessarily mean a permanent population has become established there…