Black bear spotted near Hilliard, Missouri

A couple in northern Butler County got a big surprise Tuesday evening when they looked out their window and saw a black bear frolicking in their backyard.

The couple, who live near Hilliard in a wooded residential area, wish to remain anonymous, but the two of them were excited to see the animal, which was about 15 yards from their back door at approximately 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.

"My husband was just sitting here in his chair and happened to look up and watched him walk across our back window," the wife said.

The wife said the bear, which the husband described as a male bear, or boar, just "played around" in their yard.

"We watched him probably for about 15 minutes, just laying there underneath the pine tree, licking himself and scratching himself," the wife said. "Then he stretched out (and later) got up and wandered off to the side of our house, then he walked off in the woods. He was probably out there 20-25 minutes or 30 minutes, something like that."

The wife said the bear returned at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, sat down at a tree, scratched his back against the tree and then went to the couple's deer feeder before the husband scared him away. However, the bear returned a few minutes later and also was at the feeder Wednesday morning, when it was last seen.

However, this is not the first time the couple has seen signs of bears, or indications a bear has been in the area, near their house.

"A couple of years ago, my husband was deer hunting about a mile away and he saw some bear tracks," the wife said. "But this is the first one we've seen (here in the flesh)."

The couple have seen bears from a distance earlier this year when they visited East Tennessee, but this was the closest the two of them had been to one of the animals.

"I think it's pretty cool, but it's also a little scary," the wife said. "We have dogs and we kept them in the house because I was afraid to let them out the door. They usually are outside dogs (but) we kept them in."

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs said there have been no other reports of bear sightings in Butler County. Attempts to reach local Missouri Department of Conservation agents before presstime were unsuccessful.

'Be bear aware'

Missouri Department of Conservation biologist Nate Bowersock, who specializes in black bears, said it is important for people to remove or secure bear attractants from their property, such as bird feeders, trash, barbecue grills, pet food and food waste.

"As black bears become active in spring, they are on the search for food," Bowersock said. "Keeping areas free of attractants to allow bears to find natural foods on their own is in everyone's best interest. If you see a bear, leave the animal alone and enjoy the sighting, but be sure to not offer it any food."

Bowersock noted intentionally feeding bears can be dangerous as it makes the bears comfortable around people. It can also lead bears to cause significant damage to property while searching for a meal -- and can result in the animal's death.

"When bears lose their fear of humans, they could approach people in search of food or become defensive around food sources or territory they associate with people, which can make them dangerous," Bowersock said. "When this happens, the bear cannot be relocated and has to be destroyed. A fed bear is a dead bear."

The MDC encourages people to do the following to avoid attracting black bears to possible food sources:

• Stash and latch trash. Store garbage, recyclables and compost inside a secure building or in a bear-proof container until trash pickup day.
• Keep grills and smokers clean and store them inside.
• Don't leave pet food outside. Feed pets a portion at each meal and remove the empty containers.
• Refrain from using bird feeders in bear country from April through November.
• Use electric fencing to keep bears away from beehives, chicken coops, vegetable gardens, orchards and other potential food sources.
• Keep campsites clean and store all food, toiletries and trash in a secure vehicle or strung high between two trees. Do not keep food or toiletries in a tent, and do not burn or bury garbage or food waste.

Also, while black bears are generally a shy, non-aggressive species and attacks are rare, follow these tips when outdoors in bear country:

• Make noise, such as clapping, singing or talking loudly, to prevent surprising a bear.
• Travel in a group, if possible.
• Keep dogs leashed.
• Be aware of surroundings. If there is sign of a bear, such as tracks or scat, avoid the area.
• Leave bears alone. Do not approach them, and make sure they have an escape route.

Report bear sightings online at www.short.mdc.mo.gov/4gF.

For more information on Missouri black bears and how to Be Bear Aware, visit www.MDC online at mdc.mo.gov/wildlife/wildlife-facts/be-bear-aware.