In recent years, western Albemarle residents have shared photos of pitiful bears with patchy fur, looking gaunt, dazed and threadbare in neighborhoods and along roadways. While western Albemarle has not been designated as a severe mange-affected area, bear harvest numbers in Albemarle County and throughout Virginia show that disease concerns are influencing wildlife policy.
According to February reports from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), the bear harvest dropped sharply in Albemarle and neighboring counties during the 2025-26 season, following a shortened season aimed at protecting bear populations in areas where sarcoptic mange has been confirmed. As of July 2024, DWR said it had confirmed mange in bears in 24 Virginia counties. In response, the agency shortened bear seasons in the most affected counties, aiming for a 60% to 65% reduction in the female harvest to give local populations a chance to recover.
Hunters reported harvesting only 13 bears in Albemarle County this season, a marked decline from 43 in 2024 and 45 in 2023. In previously bear-heavy Nelson County, the total fell to 42 bears, down from 76 the previous year and 88 two years ago. In these counties, the lower harvest does not reflect a regulatory change: the season ran for six weeks, as it normally does…