Bears will come out of hibernation around late February and into March. They will stay in the area from spring until late fall. Bear sightings have become more common over the years in the Smith Mountain Lake area. Virginia’s black bears, Ursus americanus, were spotted last year in Moneta and were also seenswimming in the lake. They were spotted in the fields along Lost Mountain Road and the Booker T.Washington highway across from the park, among other locations.
Master Naturalists in the Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter of the Virginia Cooperative Extension will monitor bear sightings in the SML area this year. This program is an outgrowth of interest in bears by visitors to the BRFAL exhibit at the Franklin County Senior Expo last September. Master Naturalists offered material from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources on how to avoid conflicts with the bears.
The DWR has also prepared a YouTube presentation on black bears. This includes the history and current living conditions of local bears. They are not dangerous, but you should avoid them. Take photos from a safe distance. Move away from a bear very quietly and slowly if you see one near you. A frightened bear is likely to climb a tree to avoid people…