Cherokee Village residents are reporting bear sightings within the city limits. On Sunday evening, Cherokee Village resident Dale Carden reported sighting a black bear near the intersection of Muskogee Drive and East Miami Drive.
Carden said he warned his neighbors about he sightings at which time a neighbor stated it had previously been seen by one of their children walking along Muskogee.
According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, black bears are common in Arkansas and are the smallest bear species in the United States. Their coats can range in color from brown to gray to cinnamon.
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research Extension said bear attacks are extremely rare, however; avoid bear when spotted.
“Most bears are extremely shy and elusive and usually avoid direct contact with humans. Incidents of black bears attacking people have been reported but are extremely rare. In fact, a person is 180 times more likely to die from a bee sting or 160,000 times more likely to die in a traffic accident than die from a bear attack.,” the UADA said “Despite the extreme rarity of bear attacks on people, always be alert to dangerous situations when
in bear habitat. Be bear aware. Look for bear signs.”
Should one happen upon a bear, there is no set formula for safety, and encounters with mother bears and cubs are more dangerous than encounters with a single bear.
“Each bear encounter is unique. No hard and fast rules can be applied when dealing with an animal as intelligent as a bear. As a rule, however, confrontations can be classified as either surprise encounters (also called defensive encounters) or predatory encounters,” the UADA said. “The type of encounter determines what you should do to decrease your chances for injury. A surprise encounter occurs when you surprise the bear, the bear surprises you or both. Here are a few recommendations if you find yourself in this situation.”
Steps to take include: Stay calm and stand your ground (or move slowly away). Try to intimidate the bear by shouting, banging objects together or hitting it with a rock or stick; Do not run, as the bear may chase you. Though bears may appear slow and awkward, they have been clocked running at speeds of up to 30 miles
per hour, or about 44 feet per second, over short distances. For comparison, a world-class Olympic
sprinter under ideal conditions can run only about 33 feet per second for very short distances; Unless an attack is imminent, playing dead is not recommended.
Arkansas is The Natural State, so enjoy the view, but do not approach a bear.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
