Black bear spotted at Nolin River Lake residence

A black bear has been spotted near Nolin River Lake.

A man who owns property on Nolin River Lake posted a video on social media on Sunday of a black bear rambling through his yard. The bear pauses and takes a few sniffs before wandering out of frame.

The video was filmed in the 100 block of Holiday Hill Road (off Dug Hill Road near Wax).

Black bears are found all over Kentucky, with a higher concentration in eastern Kentucky, and generally grow to four- to six-feet in length, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife.

“Black bears are naturally shy and elusive animals that generally avoid contact with humans,” but, Fish & Wildlife officials say to “never approach a black bear, as they are extremely powerful animals whose behavior can be unpredictable.”

The following are excerpts from the Kentucky Fish & Wildlife website concerning black bear activity, tendencies, attractants, behavior, etc.:

Black bears are solitary animals with the exception of individual family units or breeding pairs during the June-July breeding season. The great majority of their time is spent alone and on a seemingly endless quest for food. Bears are naturally shy and elusive animals that generally avoid contact with humans.

Black bears are powerful, large-bodied animals that grow to 4–6 feet in length when fully grown. While variant color phases may exist, bears are typically black with a brown muzzle and may exhibit a white patch on their chest.

In Kentucky, adult females usually weigh between 120–170 pounds, while adult males average 250–350 pounds. Weights among bears are extremely variable, however, and are determined by food availability and the time of year. It is not uncommon, for example, for a bear to almost double its summer weight after spending the fall months feeding on acorns.

To date, the largest bear handled in Kentucky was a 480-pound adult male that was captured as a research animal during the summer of 2008. The heaviest wild black bear ever reliably documented was an 880-pound, 10-year old male that was harvested on the coast of North Carolina in the fall of 1998.

Following these simple guidelines will minimize any unnecessary and potentially dangerous encounters.

Never approach a bear!
Black bears are extremely powerful animals whose behaviors can be unpredictable.
Black bears are very curious animals and this should not be confused with aggression.
If a bear approaches you in the wild, it is likely only trying to assess your presence.
Bears will often stand upright to obtain a better sense of smell.
If you see a black bear from a distance, alter your route of travel.
When camping in bear country, keep all food stored in a vehicle or away from tents.
If approached by a bear — stand your ground, raise your arms to appear larger, and yell until it leaves the area.
Never run from a bear! This will often trigger its natural instinct to chase.
If a black bear attacks, fight back aggressively and do not play dead!

If cornered or threatened, bears may slap the ground, “pop” their jaws or “huff” as a warning. If you see those behaviors you are too close! Slowly back away while facing the bear at all times. Notify the KDFWR immediately if you witness aggressive behavior by black bears!

(Photos: Still shots of video of black bear walking through yard near Nolin River Lake)